Are you on vacation in Prague, have you visited most of the attractions in the Czech capital and are planning to take a trip out of town? And maybe you have heard about Karlštejn Castle? In this article, let’s find out together all the useful information about visiting Karlštejn Castle: what are the schedules, ticket prices, what to see inside, and how to get there from Prague (either by train or other means of transportation).

Are you ready? Let’s get started

Karlštejn Castle: description

Karlštejn Castle definitely deserves the attention of those who happen to spend their vacations in the parts of Prague.

In short, it is no coincidence that on average it registers an influx of about 300,000 visitors a year.

Moreover, in the immediate vicinity of the ancient manor, a historical testimony of unquestionable value, there is a dense forest that to this day is part of the Bohemian Karst Nature Park.

Karlštejn Castle: history

Like many other local monuments, Karlštejn Castle was erected in medieval times.

Commanding its construction was King Charles IV in the 14th century.

Here the monarch had decided to keep his most precious treasures as well as the Holy Relics entrusted to him, and here he often went to check that the engineers built and decorated the palace according to his dictates and taste.

The castle was built relatively quickly: the building site, opened in 1348, was decommissioned in 1365. In the same year it was also possible to consecrate the Chapel of the Holy Cross located in the so-called Great Tower of the manor.

Successive rulers in Bohemia decided to modernize the castle according to gradually more current tastes and styles.

For this reason, the fortress features not only Gothic, but also Renaissance and neo-Gothic elements.

To this day, the opulent and imposing complex is considered the third largest in the entire country.

It is preceded by Prague Castle and Konopiste Castle.

Karlštejn Castle: legends and myths

Karlštejn Castle is the protagonist of many legends.

It seems, for example, that King Charles forbade women to cross its threshold.

The reason? The manor had a spiritual value for him and the fair sex would distract him from any religious and contemplative intent.

King Charles dared not, so it is said, enter inside the Chapel of the Holy Cross without first removing his shoes and bowing his head.

Dating from a later period, on the other hand, is the tale of a local musician who was a guest of the castle together with his dog.

The beast knowinglydrank instead of his master a glass of wine poisoned by the king himself.

What to see in Karlštejn Castle

Karlštejn Castle towers on a hill whose landscape is predominantly forested.

Needless to say, visiting it also means enjoying postcard-perfect views.

To do so, climbing up the Great Tower is ideal.

Beware,however: the castle can be visited, yes, but not on private initiative. In fact, it is not possible to enter its ancient halls except in the company of an authorized guide.

Let’s find out together what to see in this imposing manor house.

The entrance to the castle

The main core of Karlštejn Castle is protected by an imposing inner wall, in front of which stands the outer castle. Access is provided through two gates and an independent fortified residential quarter with a moat and well tower.

The structure of the inner castle, which includes the palace, church tower and Torre Grande, is built on three stepped terraces, highlighting its special function.

The lower terrace and the interior of the castle

The lower terrace houses the rectangular-shaped imperial palace, following a pattern typical of 13th-century Bohemia, with three floors of rooms.

To the west of the central hall is a wood-paneled room, while to the east is a drawing room.

The second floor constituted the Emperor’s apartment, including a large central hall with a flat wooden ceiling, an adjacent study, and the tower chapel of St. Nicholas.

The third floor was devoted to the Empress’s apartments. A bridge connects the second floor of the Campanile to the second terrace.

The Campanile and the chapel

The Campanile, a two-story rectangular building, contains a cross-vaulted chapel and a oriel chapel, initially the private oratory of the Emperor and later dedicated to St. Catherine.

The Great Tower

The Great Tower, crowning the castle on the highest terrace, is an imposing three-story structure accessible from the second floor of the bell tower.

Protected by its own fortification wall, it contains the Chapel of the Holy Cross, consecrated in 1365, which served as storage for the imperial crown jewels.

Its design may have been inspired by royal residences in Paris, with Peter Parler ‘s influence evident only in the final stages of construction.

The paintings and decorations found inside Karlštejn Castle

Karlštejn’s main buildings, including the imperial palace, the church tower, and the Great Tower, were all beautifully decorated with wall paintings, panel paintings, and stained glass windows. The decoration began along with the design of the building and reflected the varying function of the rooms. The most important areas were adorned with embossed gilded stucco and set gemstones.

The imperial palace, although its original decoration has not survived, featured at least two remarkable cycles of wall paintings. One depicted the Miracle of St. Nicholas’ Finger, painted in the Emperor’s chamber, while the second, known as the Luxembourg Genealogy, adorned the main hall with images of some 65 members of the royal and fictional family, from Noah to Charles IV.

In the church bell tower, older wall paintings dating before the 1357 consecration were kept in St. Catherine’s Chapel. Later, the bell tower housed paintings by Tomaso da Modena, including a triptych transferred to the Chapel of the Holy Cross in 1365 and a diptych recovered in the 19th century. The decoration of the bell tower also included votive paintings and frescoes depicting saints and religious scenes.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower was particularly significant, with rich decoration that included crown jewels, gold leaves, and gilded glass. The walls were frescoed with more than 130 half-length figures of saints, and the original stained glass windows were decorated with gemstones depicting cycles of the Life of the Virgin and Christ, as well as scenes from the Apocalypse.

The staircase of the Great Tower featured cycles of paintings depicting the Life of Saint Ludmilla, the Life of Saint Wenceslas, and Czech rulers.

Karlštejn’s entire decorative program reflected the ambitions of Charles IV, emphasizing imperial power and the cult of relics.

The decorations, made mainly by artists from the imperial court in Prague, laid the foundation for the thriving Bohemian school of painting in the second half of the 14th century.

The paintings show remarkable artistic quality, with sophisticated colors, play of light and shadow in the draperies, and naturalistic physiognomies.

Karlštejn Castle: guided tour

If you plan to join a guided tour of the castle, you should know that there are two routes that are normally offered to tourists: basic andexclusive.

Basicguided tour of Karlštejn Castle

The basic route will give you a chance to walk around the interior of the castle, access the Marian Tower in which rich treasures are still preserved, the Knights’ Hall with the adjoining Chapel of St. Nicholas, the king’s bedroom, the so-called Ancestors’ Hall, the Audience Hall, and finally the Premyslid Gallery.

Exclusiveguided tour of Karlštejn Castle

The exclusive guided tour of the Castle, on the other hand, is significantly longer and more complex, which is precisely why it should be booked before going to the site.

In addition to the places on the basic route, it will also give you a chance to visit the castle’s sacred places, the library, the ancient wooden bridge, and the Great Tower.

Karlštejn Castle: useful information

Now, however, let’s set aside the legends and come to the practical tips.

The beautiful castle cannot always be visited: before heading there, therefore, I recommend you check whether it is actually possible to observe its interior.

Not to be missed is the medieval festival that is organized every autumn on the slopes of the fortress.

It usually coincides with the harvest season.

However, there is no shortage of events and festivals during the other seasons of the year as well.

The advice? Don’t miss them!

Ticket prices for Karlštejn Castle

Admission inside the castle walls is free, but to enter the castle itself you must purchase a ticket, currently priced at 270 Czech crowns (about 11 euros) for adults. Children, students and seniors over 65 pay only 180 CZK.

If you are coming from Prague, you can also purchase a ticket for transportation from Prague + the guided tour of the Castle.

Karlštejn Castle Opening Hours

Castle hours vary depending on the seasons and holidays.

To make sure the castle is open, check the castle’s official website.

Month	Opening days	Opening hours	Closing hours
jan. 1-31	fri, Sat, Sun	10:00	15:00
feb. 1-29	fri, Sat, Sun	10:00	15:00
march 1-31	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:30	16:00
april 1	mon	09:30	17:00
apr 2-30	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:30	17:00
may 1-31	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:30	17:30
june 1-30	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:00	17:30
july 1-31	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:00	18:00
aug. 1-31	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:00	18:00
september 1-30	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:30	17:30
oct. 1-30	tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	09:30	16:30
oct. 28	mon	09:30	16:30
nov 1-30	fri, Sat, Sun	10:00	15:00
dec. 1-22	fri, Sat, Sun	10:00	15:00
dec. 23-25	closed	closed	closed
december 26-31	mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	10:00	15:00

Last tour begins at closing time

Tour duration

How long does a visit to Karlstejn Castletake? Visiting the manor takes at least 2-3 hours. Starting from Prague, between travel and visiting the castle, put in at least 4.30h.

How to get to Karlštejn Castle

Karlstejn Castle (Hrad Karlštejn) is located about 30 km southwest of Prague.

You can reach Karlštejn in three ways:

• by car: by taking the E50 road from Prague.
• by train: the Prague Karlštejn train leaves from Prague Central Station. The train ride takes about 40 minutes.
• by bus: you can buy a ticket for a bus transfer + guided tour of the castle, lasting a total of 4 or 5 hours depending on the tour you choose.

Prague Karlstejn: frequently asked questions