Karlštejn – the most visited castle in the Czech Republic

Karlštejn Castle – the most remarkable and the biggest castle in the Czech Republic . Also a fascinating piece of Czech history, built in the XIV century by Charles IV, the King of Bohemia as his private residence. Later on became a secure vault for the Imperial Crown Jewels and holy relics. Are you ready to visit?

STYLES

Karlštejn Castle’s original design reflects High Gothic architecture, with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and slender columns. In the late 1500s, Karlštejn embraced the Renaissance style, softening its austere Gothic lines. This included more ornate interiors and decorative facades. After suffering a major damage by the Swedes, architects undertook restoration efforts to preserve its original appearance. Architect’s goal was to return Karlštejn to its “ideal” form,

LOCATION AND ITS HISTORIC MEANING

Karlštejn Castle was built high above the Berounka River, which seems like a perfect location. It offered visibility, isolation, and natural barriers. But in practice, the location was very unfortunate. The castle standing on the hilltop was an easy target to shoot. Also, the steep terrain made it difficult for defenders to retreat or receive reinforcements. Once surrounded, the castle was essentially locked in. Luckily, the walls were really thick – 4 meters, so the enemy sometimes didn’t even make it through.

JEWELS

At the heart of the Great Tower lies the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a sacred and heavily fortified chamber that served as the castle’s vault. The chapel was designed to guard the Imperial Crown Jewels, including the crown, orb, and scepter of the Holy Roman Empire. Nowadays, you might see the beautifully decorated crown.

PLAN A VISIT

Reserve your spot in advance on the official Karlštejn Castle website—you can purchase tickets there too. There are several guided tours available, so choose based on your interests or how much time you have. Some tours last up to 180 minutes and vary significantly in price. The most expensive option is a lecture over a cup of coffee with a Capuchin monk, priced at 3500 CZK. On the other hand, there’s a short 55-minute tour for around 300 CZK, and a comprehensive 3-hour experience that covers the full history, most of the castle’s rooms, and even the vault, for 1800 CZK. For obvious reasons, we opted for the short tour—which, to be honest, was already a stretch for our kids.

PARKING

Parking is tricky, there’s no free spots around Karlštejn Castle. However, there’s one huge area, where you have to pay 200 kc for the whole day. From the parking lot, it’s about a 15–20 minute walk uphill to the castle gates. The town itself is a pedestrian zone, so cars aren’t allowed beyond a certain point.

THE TOWN

The Karlštejn town is very small and compact, but is packed with cozy cafes, souvenir shops and points of interests like Bethlehem Museum or Wax Museum. The surrounding countryside is part of the Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape, perfect for hiking, cycling, or exploring limestone caves like Koněprusy.

HAVE MORE TIME?

Closeby you might find quarry Great America, often called Velká Amerika. It is a breathtaking limestone quarry near Karlštejn that people refer to as the “Czech Grand Canyon.” Swimming and direct access to the water are prohibited, but the viewpoints along the yellow trail offer stunning panoramas.

If you’re into castles, the Křivoklát Castle is also within reach. It’s a medieval stronghold nestled in deep forest, offering a different flavor of Czech history. Unfortunately we didn’t make it there, because we headed to Plzen.

Obviously, if you haven’t been before Prague, remote 30 kilometers away is a must see. It’s a capital city of the Czech Republic and architectural gem.