Karlstejn Royal Castle. The greatest castle in the Czech Republic. 30 km from Prague!

Name: Karlstejn Castle
Rating: 5

The Gothic Karlstejn Castle is the greatest castle in the Czech Republic!
This royal fortress lies 30 km south of Prague and 8 km east of Beroun
In the center of the village, leave the car in a paid parking lot and walk a few hundred meters slightly uphill
The castle is also visited for a fee, the basic route costs 309 kc (about PLN 50)
Tickets are best bought online in advance, for a specific time and language, because there are really a lot of tourists
Guides guide not only in Czech, but also in English, there was no Polish option
It is not allowed to take pictures in the chapel in the Great Tower, nor is it on the basic tour route
On the way to the castle, you can visit the Museum with a moving crib, there are also a lot of restaurants and snack stalls

Karlstejn Castle as the most magnificent summer residence in the world was built in the Middle Ages by King Charles IV. This is the same ruler for whom the famous Charles Bridge in Prague was built. Both buildings are famous all over the world and arouse a lot of emotions, and the residence in Karlstejn has grown today to the rank of the most magnificent castle in the Czech Republic. It is located about 30 km southwest of Prague and 8 km east of the city of Beroun, in Central Bohemia.

Karlstejn Castle - the most popular castle in the Czech Republic

Today, the castle is considered not only the most magnificent in the Czech Republic, but also the most popular. All you have to do is come here to find out. Every few minutes, another group of tourists disappears behind the gate, with guides telling stories in different languages. This happened, among other things, because Charles IV became the Roman emperor and in this fortress he decided to hide from the world valuable collections of sacred relics as well as treasures and crown and even imperial jewels. And it is also worth adding that the silhouette of the castle is unique and delightful!

The Great Tower and the Chapel of the Holy Cross

The really powerful Great Tower and the chapel of the Holy Cross built in it served as a treasury. The tower itself is extremely impressive, it is the dominant element of the entire building. Apparently, women could not enter it, and the king himself entered the chapel barefoot out of respect. The treasures were protected by 3 pairs of iron doors with 9 locks. If you add the cross vault and the whole set of plaque paintings by Master Theodoric, you can experience special moments here. Unfortunately, the chapel is not visited every day, it does not include its basic sightseeing route, and in addition, photos cannot be taken inside. It's a jewel for the chosen ones!

Visiting Karlštejn Castle

But don't worry, the remaining parts of the fortress are also interesting and very atmospheric. A walk through its corridors and halls is a fantastic adventure, accompanied by interesting guide stories. A gem on the route of visiting the castle is the crown of Czech rulers. It is a copy, but it is so well mapped that you will not see the difference with the naked eye. The original is hidden behind several doors and only a few people have access to it.

A curiosity about the castle - an unconquered fortress

In the fifteenth century, the castle, or Karlštejn Castle, was attacked by the Hussites, but the powerful fortifications of the stronghold resisted the catapults. At that time, the enemies threw hundreds of barrels filled with carrion, dung and faeces towards the castle. Despite such an unclean game, the castle was defended.

Practical information:

Address: Karlštejn 172
Karlstejn Castle is not cheap, and it is best to order tickets online in advance, because there are a lot of tourists here. We paid 309 kc, or about PLN 50.
Parking is also payable, 50 kc per hour or 200 kc for the whole day.
However, it is necessary to enter the interiors, because the view from the free courtyard does not give you an idea of the power of this place!

Access to the castle and Bethlehem Museum

From the parking lot to the 14th-century castle, you have to climb several hundred meters uphill. On the way, it is worth visiting the Karlštejn Bethlehem Museum, where you will see a beautiful, moving nativity scene. In the middle of summer, you will feel the atmosphere of Christmas here. It reminded me of our year-round nativity scene from Olsztynin the Jura. Near the gate to the fortress there is also the Museum of Wax Figures. Below we have included the location of the castle on the map and the route to reach it.

Where to eat in Karlstejn?

At the street leading to the castle, there are souvenir shops as well as numerous restaurants and food stalls. At the "U Adama" restaurant, close to the castle, we ate tasty fried cheese, but we already know this taste well. He was accompanied by delicious mashed potatoes, because I admit that I am not a fan of dumplings. On this promenade, however, I discovered another Czech delicacy, namely trdelnik, a cake with a hole, with sugar and cinnamon. It cost 60 kc, slightly more expensive you can also buy a version filled with ice cream, cream or nutella. This is a culinary discovery of this expedition, because I really liked trdelnik.

Accommodation in Karlstejn and its surroundings

While exploring the area, we did not sleep in Karlstejn itself, but in the beautifully located Ship Krkavčí Hora Nižbor farmhouse. It is a place for horse lovers, but of course not only. Away from civilization, among fields and meadows. There is a stable with horses outside the accommodation. It is a former farmhouse, beautifully revitalized. The guest rooms are located in a new building, the rooms are modestly furnished, but they are very clean, spacious and offer what you need, i.e. a private bathroom and a wide bed. There are also breakfasts and a fully equipped kitchen where you can even cook lunches. The place is worth recommending.

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History of the Czech Karlštejn Castle

As you already know, the castle was built during the time of Charles IV. He became King of Bohemia in 1346 and Roman Emperor in 1355. The fortress in Karlstejn, on the other hand, began to be built in 1348, and was completed in 1365. Surrounded by walls, it dominates the area with the mighty Great Tower. Outside of it, at that time, Podzamcze with Castellania was created with an original well, 80 meters deep, as well as the Imperial Palace with the bedrooms of the king, his court and nobility, and the Marian Tower.

The most valuable element of the stronghold was and still is the castle chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower, with a rich decor in the Byzantine style. This is the place where the coronation jewels are stored. It will be decorated with several thousand polished stones and 129 plaque paintings by Master Theodoric, court painter Charles IV. Initially, there were 130 of these paintings. The unsuccessful siege of the Hussites took place in 1422 and lasted 6 months. The castle managed to defend itself!

Experiences near and far

Very close to the castle, about 4 km away, you will find a beautiful Czech Grand Canyon, where the beautiful America Quarry stands out. The city of Beroun itself is also worth attention, with an atmospheric ceramics museum. These are the attractions of the Czech Karst, headed by the Koneprusy Caves.

North of Prague is the unpopular rock city of Kokorinsko, with rock sculptures and sandstone outskirts, as well as the romantic castle of Kokorin.

A little further, about 100 km from the castle, impresses tourists withKutna Hora. I highly recommend visiting this silver city. And going to Upper Silesia on the way there will be Olomouc, an equally captivating city, a little bigger, anddealne for a weekend citybreak.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

Beroun, distance: 8.6 km
Czech Karst, distance: 8.9 km
Koneprusie Caves in the Czech Republic, distance: 9 km
Hradčany in Prague, distance: 22.7 km
Prague, distance: 23.4 km
Rock city in the Czech Republic. Kokorinsko, distance: 57 km
Kolin, distance: 73.1 km
Central Bohemia, distance: 77 km
Kutna Hora, distance: 77 km
Kladruby, distance: 90 km