Prague to Karlstejn and Krivoklat Castle: Day trip

Karlštejn Castle rises above the Berounka valley as Charles IV's Gothic treasury — built in 1348 to house the Bohemian crown jewels and the Holy Roman imperial regalia.

What to see

• The Chapel of the Holy Cross — walls inlaid with 129 panel paintings by Master Theodoric and semi-precious stones; advance reservation required
• The Great Tower — the fortified sequence of chambers climbing to the chapel
• The Berounka valley views from the castle ramparts

Take note

• Entry by guided tour only; the Chapel requires a separate advance reservation at hrad-karlstejn.cz

Křivoklát Castle sits deep in the Křivoklátsko Forest as one of the oldest and least touristy royal castles in Bohemia — a 12th-century hunting retreat, state prison, and royal residence of extraordinary Gothic character, its setting in protected woodland making it as much a nature destination as a historical one.

What to see

• The Gothic chapel — a castle chapel of exceptional quality, with its vaulted interior and carved details among the finest Romanesque-Gothic work in Bohemia
• The medieval library — one of the few surviving castle libraries with original volumes still in situ
• The Great Tower — climb for panoramic views over the densely forested Křivoklátsko landscape

What to do

• The surrounding Křivoklátsko Biosphere Reserve offers marked hiking trails through the protected forest directly from the castle grounds

Take note

• Křivoklát is considerably less crowded than Karlštejn — visiting in the afternoon after Karlštejn gives the most relaxed experience