KĆivoklĂĄt Castle sits deep in the KĆivoklĂĄtsko Forest as one of the oldest and least touristy royal castles in Bohemia â 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 â a castle chapel of exceptional quality, with its vaulted interior and carved details among the finest Romanesque-Gothic work in Bohemia
- The medieval library â one of the few surviving castle libraries with original volumes still in situ
- The Great Tower â climb for panoramic views over the densely forested KĆivoklĂĄtsko landscape
What to do
- The surrounding KĆivoklĂĄtsko Biosphere Reserve offers marked hiking trails through the protected forest directly from the castle grounds
Take note
- KĆivoklĂĄt is considerably less crowded than KarlĆĄtejn â visiting in the afternoon after KarlĆĄtejn gives the most relaxed experience