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Czech Republic

Středočeský kraj

Karlštejn Castle

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Places to see

Castles

Czech Republic

Středočeský kraj

Karlštejn Castle

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Karlštejn Castle

Recommended by 124 hikers out of 125

This Highlight is in a protected area

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CHKO Český kras

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Location: Středočeský kraj, Czech Republic

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Best Hikes to Karlštejn Castle

4.7

(101)

517

hikers

1. Velká Amerika Quarry – Velká Amerika Quarry loop from Karlštejn

13.0km

03:39

270m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(26)

316

hikers

2. View of Karlštejn Castle – Karlštejn Castle loop from Karlštejn

3.71km

01:05

100m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.5

(19)

hikers

3. Little America Quarry – Great America Quarry loop from Karlštejn

10.3km

02:55

220m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Cathrin

July 4, 2022

At the parking lot below, you can also take a horse-drawn carriage to the castle. The ride takes about 20 minutes, and the driver will tell you a bit about the castle. He'll also stop briefly so you can take photos of the castle (from the best spot). The carriage ride goes right through the town, giving you a good overview of the area.

The bakery (Pekarna or Pekařství) on the right (uphill) has incredibly delicious pastries with a variety of fillings (e.g., cherry, plum, quark, pear, or poppy seed). The elderly lady who runs it is very friendly and speaks pretty much every language 😳😊

Café 34 on the left (uphill) is very nice, with original dishes and a variety of homemade lemonades. There's a lovely outdoor seating area.

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Tetiana Vorontsova

July 16, 2021

Karlštejn Castle was founded in 1348 by the Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor as his private residence and a place of safekeeping royal treasures, especially his collections of holy relics and the Imperial Crown Jewels. In 1355 Charles IV stayed here for the first time, overseeing the construction and decoration work, especially in chapels. The construction was completed in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower was consecrated.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross was the place of safekeeping the imperial crown jewels until 1420 when the Hussite wars (religious civil war) began, and they had not ever returned to Karlštejn Castle. After the wars in 1436, the Bohemian crown jewels were taken to the Chapel of the Holy Cross where they remained till 1619.
The castle was a representative residence of Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV only, i.e. till 1419. As a fortress, Karlštejn Castle protected the crown jewels, holy relics, and royal archives till the 17th century.
Over the centuries the castle has always been in hands of the king or a state institution, never in private hands. Nowadays it is owned by the state.
After 1480 the castle was rebuilt in the late Gothic style, in the last quarter of the 16th century in the Renaissance style. During the last reconstruction that took place at the end of the 19th century (by architect Josef Mocker) in the spirit of purism, the castle gained its present appearance.
Very impressive is the preserved original stair-arrangement of individual castle buildings. The lower section with a small courtyard by the Well Tower and the Burgrave´s House continue through the majestic five-storey Imperial Palace and the Marian Tower. At the highest point, the construction of the castle culminates in a monumental, 60-meter-high Great Tower and its massive fortifications.

soulblind

February 21, 2020

A beautiful little place, idyllically situated on the Vltava, with the famous Karlštejner castle as a landmark. There are many small restaurants and of course souvenir shops.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 280 m

Weather

Saturday 27 December

2°C

-4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Středočeský kraj, Czech Republic

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Karlštejn Castle

1. Velká Amerika Quarry – Velká Amerika Quarry loop from Karlštejn

2. View of Karlštejn Castle – Karlštejn Castle loop from Karlštejn

3. Little America Quarry – Great America Quarry loop from Karlštejn

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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