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Karlstejn, Prague

Karlsteijn castle - Prague
Karlsteijn castle
by tini58de
Karlstejn tips and photos posted by real travelers and Prague locals.
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Karlstejn: Karlstejn and the central Bohemian countryside
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  • hundwalder
  • Updated By hundwalder on May 18, 2008
  • Prague Page by hundwalder
  • Hrady Karlstejn and the surrounding countryside. - Prague
    Hrady Karlstejn and the
    surrounding countryside.
    by hundwalder,
    1 more photos
    The city of Karlstejn and its famous Gothic castle are located about 35 km. southwest of Prague. Karlstejn is a short, uncomplicated, scenic, and very inexpensive, train ride from Hlavni Nadrazi ( central or main ) train station of Prague. Many tour packages for hrady ( castle ) Karlstejn are available, but most leave much to be desired, and a few are outright hoaxes. My advice is to save your money by taking the public train. The red, white, and blue, flag of the new republic of Chechia, is shown flying proudly over the upper court of the castle.

    Shown in both photos are the tallest rook and part of the castle's ramparts, as well as the surrounding steep and heavily forested hills. Further in the distance are the villages that dot the river valley. You can see from the photos that attacking the castle was a very formidable task for all of the invaders who tried. The photos were taken in April when the Bohemian countryside is especially beautiful and captivating.

    more later !

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    Karlstejn: medieval fortress overlooking Karlstejn
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  • hundwalder
  • Updated By hundwalder on June 19, 2008
  • Prague Page by hundwalder
  • Towers and ramparts of hrady Karlstejn. - Prague
    Towers and ramparts of hrady
    Karlstejn.
    by hundwalder, 3 more photos
    The vast reaching hrad ( castle ) Karlstejn is spread out over the highest densely forested hilltops overlooking the well preserved Renaissance central Bohemian city of the same name. Construction of this mighty fortress commenced in 1348, by order of the ambitous, vain, and treasury pillaging King Karluv IV ( yes the same king under whose reign many of Prague's most popular tourist sites were built and given his name ). The king declared that the primary purpose of the fortress was to house the crown jewels, the other royal treasures, and the important and guarded documents. However, the completed fortress which rivaled a small city in size, served many more functions, including defense of the region.

    The castle was revamped in about 1550, from which it received its present appearance. The architectural style is very characteristic of Bohemian and Austro-Hungarian Renaissance.The semi pyramidal roofs of the towers and other buildings, as well as the half timbered great halls are common throughout the region in castles as well as free standing towers. Photo #2 is a closeup view of the great hall and primary tower. Photo #1 shows more detail of the sloping crenalated ramparts. Photo #3 shows the older buildings in the castle complex, indluding one of the medieval turrets with a coned roof. Photo #4 shows the steeples of the castle's church, protruding from behind the massive defense ramparts.

    There are excellent hiking trails through the woods surrounding the castle, which afford great views of all sides of the castle and of the surrounding river valley and countryside. Admission to the castle grounds and many of its structures is free of charge, and you can enjoy them as long as you wish. There are two guided tours offered of the castle interiors, although the long tour is only offered a few times a day. The tours are not very memorable and no photography of the interiors is allowed. It is hard to say why ! The best views of the castle are from a distance and from the courtyard, such as the ones shown in my photos.

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    Karlstejn: Karlstejn Castle
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  • mrclay2000
  • By mrclay2000 on December 15, 2003
  • Prague Page by mrclay2000
  • Karlstejn Castle - Prague
    Karlstejn Castle
    by mrclay2000
    This 14-century stronghold built by Charles IV to house the crown jewels now serves only partly in that capacity (the rest of the crown jewels are in Vienna). Even so, there is a police presence within the castle to prevent electronic devices from scouting the place, but otherwise the tour through the various royal apartments and the at-will exploration around the ramparts, towers and battlements is a wonderful diversion for the castle lover. Karlstejn is about 35 minutes by train northwest from Prague (leaves from Smichov station to Beroun every hour).

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    Karlstejn: Karlstejn Castle
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  • HORSCHECK
  • Updated By HORSCHECK on December 30, 2007
  • Prague Page by HORSCHECK
  • Karlstejn Castle - Prague
    Karlstejn Castle
    by HORSCHECK,
    2 more photos
    Take a daytrip by train to the famous Gothic Castle of Karlstejn. The medieval castle was built between 1348 and 1355 to deposit the Empire coronation jewels and state documents.

    It is located on a hill and offers great views of the surrounding area. The way up the hill is packed with tourist stalls selling every kind of souvenirs.

    Karlstejn ist located about 35 km southwest of Prague. A return train ticket was 112 CZK in 2003 (less than 2 EURO).

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    Karlstejn: Daytrip to Karlštejn Castle
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  • Krumlovgirl
  • By Krumlovgirl on January 22, 2005
  • Prague Page by Krumlovgirl
  • This medieval castle was built in 1348 - 1368 by the King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV, as a place for safekeeping the coronation jewels. The heart of the castle is the Chapel of the Holy Rood (or Holy Cross), and features a famous gallery of 127 panel paintings by the Master Theodoricus. Reservations for touring the Chapel must be made ahead of time.
    Distance: approx. 21 miles (half-day trip)

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    Karlstejn: Karlstejn
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  • COHbKA
  • Updated By COHbKA on March 3, 2003
  • Prague Page by COHbKA
  • One of the Karlstejn Castle towers - Prague
    One of the Karlstejn
    Castle towers
    by COHbKA
    If you are into hiking and have a free day on your hands, take a train to Karlstejn, see the beautiful castle, then follow one of the trails from there. We took a 15K trail to Berun - through a small village called Svyatogo Janu pod Skaloju. It was fairly level walk through woods and meadows - not extremelly challenging, but proved a good preparation for ascent to Triglav in Slovenia a few days later (see more about that in my Slovenia page :) )

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    Karlstejn: Get a taste of 14th century lifestyle!
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  • By wildstrawberries on August 21, 2003
  • Prague Page by wildstrawberries
  • Karlstejn - Prague
    by wildstrawberries
    This castle rivals Ludwig's Neuschwanstein in terms of outstanding architecture!

    From Praha-Smichov station take a local CD (Cesky Drahy) train to Karlstejn station (30min). It costs 21 Kc per adult. If you travel with a baby pram, pay 6Kc additional.

    From the Karlstejn station, walk another 30min(leisurely) uphill to the castle. Be sure to check the timing for English tour near the ticket office.

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    Karlstejn: Hrad Karlstejn
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  • Lalique
  • Updated By Lalique on February 5, 2003
  • Prague Page by Lalique
  • Karlstejn - Prague
    Karlstejn
    by Lalique
    It's the most known bohemian castle, it stands in the valley of river Berounka. The castle is about 30 kms south-west of Prague.
    The castle was build for Karl IV and posseses a lot of historical artifacts.
    Among other truly fascinating and interesitng things it has one of the 1st toilets, which was used only by the King. It sets on a tower wall, like a bay window and is seen from the far aproaches to the castle...

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    Karlstejn: KARLŠTEJN - the castle cca 40...
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  • NightStar
  • Updated By NightStar on May 13, 2005
  • Prague Page by NightStar
  • Karlstejn - Prague
    by NightStar
    KARLŠTEJN - the castle cca 40 km from Prague.
    Lots of tourist, when are visiting Prague have many possibilities to visit this beautiful castle (taxis, buses) - this is a place where we have a King´s treasure of Czech Republic with regalia.
    There was live and founder was King Charles IV - one of worldfamous kings in 14 century.

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    Karlstejn: Karlstejn Castle
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  • Waoife
  • By Waoife on August 26, 2002
  • Prague Page by Waoife
  • Karlstejn - Prague
    by Waoife
    Karlstejn Castle - OK being the most visited castle in the Czech Republic it's not exactly 'off the beaten path' but what a lot of people don't realise is that it's only a 35-minute train ride from Smichov station. Providing you have the whole day to spare & don't mind trying out sign language at the train station you can get a return ticket for under €5 - far cheaper than any of the expensive organised excursions. A word of warning though - the castle is about a 20 minute walk UPHILL from the train station.

    There are tours of the castle (I was there in November & even then there were plenty available in English) and although the inside is empty & not as impressive as the outside it's worth a look all the same.

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