Charles IV’s 1348 hilltop fortress 30 km from Prague was built as a vault for the Czech crown jewels, not a residence: walls up to 7.5 meters thick, 19-lock doors, and at the center a Chapel of the Holy Cross with walls inlaid in 2,000 semi-precious stones and 129 medieval panel paintings with no comparable equal anywhere in Europe. Book the Chapel tour (Route II) months ahead through hrad-karlstejn.cz. Train from Praha-Smichov to Karlstejn village (40 minutes), then 20-minute uphill walk.
castle in Prague
Karlstejn Castle
Also known as Hrad Karlštejn
Charles IV had Karlštejn built in 1348 not as a residence but as a vault, specifically designed to hold the Czech crown jewels and holy relics behind four doors fitted with 19 locks whose keys were held by separate officials. The Great Tower's walls are 4 to 7.5 meters thick.
- Type
- castle
- Destination
- Prague
- Cost
- Paid entry
- Founded
- 1348
- Era
- Gothic
- Address
- Karlstejn 172, 267 18 Prague
- Coordinates
- 50.0526, 14.3594
- Official website
- Visit website