Karlštejn Castle

Karlštejn stands above the Berounka valley about 33 km from Orlov as the crow flies, at the edge of comfortable driving range. Plan it as a full-day trip by car. It suits families and anyone who has not visited the castle before.

A bit of history

The castle was founded by Charles IV, traditionally in 1348, and its construction was completed in 1365. It was meant to house the royal treasures, above all a collection of holy relics and the imperial coronation jewels. During the Hussite Wars the Czech crown jewels were brought here and, with short breaks, stayed for almost 200 years. The castle owes its present appearance to a purist restoration between 1887 and 1905 led by Friedrich Schmidt and Josef Mocker.

What you will see

The castle is dominated by the 60-metre Great Tower. Inside is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, with walls set with precious stones and a set of 129 panel paintings from the workshop of Master Theodoric. The basic guided tour leads through the Imperial Palace, including the Knights' Hall and the Audience Hall. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is only included on some of the longer tours.

Good to know

The village of Karlštejn is a pedestrian zone. You leave the car at the central car park in the lower part of the village and walk uphill to the castle, which takes about 25 minutes. Only the main courtyard is step-free, and dogs other than assistance dogs are not allowed. Current opening hours, tours and admission prices are listed on the castle's website, and for the longer tours it is worth buying tickets in advance.