"Karlstejn" a Karlstejn Travel Page by bugulma

High Gothic castle founded in 1348, which has a unique position among Czech castles. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Karl IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Karl's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire. The first stay of Karl IV in the castle is documented in 1355 when he came to supervise the building works as well as the decoration of interiors, especially the castle chapels. The construction of the castle was finished in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross situated in the Great tower was consecrated. At the outbreak of the Hussite wars the castle became the place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels, which were kept here, with the exception of several short-time breaks, for nearly 200 years. The castle was reconstructed in late Gothic style after 1480 and in Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century. The present appearance of the castle comes from the last reconstruction, which was carried out in the purist neo-Gothic style by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th century. Very impressive is the original step-like order of buildings. From the Well tower and Burgrave's palace located as the lowest you walk up to the majestic five-storied Imperial palace and further up towards the Marian tower. And finally at the top of the headland stands the monumental 60m high and separately fortified Great tower. The castle is situated in 30 km around from Prague.

Special thanks to Jana (NightStar in VT) and her husband Vaclav for the wonderful trip to Karlstejn by car. It was really unforgotten trip to amazing place.

Here is a picture of the castle as well as Vaclav and me.