Bohemian glass and castles: Private day trip from Prague

Krivoklat is one of the Czech Republic's oldest and most important royal castles, a Gothic fortress that rises above a bend in the Berounka river and a forest that has changed little since medieval kings hunted here.

What to see

• The Gothic castle chapel, the Royal and Knights' Halls, and a library of 52,000 volumes, all on a guided tour through rooms that have hosted every Czech king since the 13th century
• The infamous dungeon and prison, complete with torture instruments; the English alchemist Edward Kelley, jailed here by Rudolf II, broke his leg attempting to escape
• The 42-meter Great Tower, reached by 72 spiral steps, with panoramic views over the Krivoklatsko forest reserve, a UNESCO biosphere

What to do

• Choose from three guided tours; the full castle route takes around 100 minutes and covers the chapel, halls, dungeon, and tower
• Try archery in the castle courtyard between tours; equipment is provided

Take note

• Book tours at krivoklat.cz
• The castle stays open on most winter weekends, unlike many Czech castles

In a bend of the Berounka River between Beroun and Krivoklat, the Ruckl family glassworks in Nizbor has been producing hand-cut Bohemian crystal for over 120 years and still makes it the same way.

What to see

• Attend live glassblowing and cutting demonstrations, showing the four-stage process from molten glass to finished crystal, including the traditional leaded crystal techniques that made Bohemia famous across Europe
• Visit the workshop where the Czech Lion award is made, Ruckl has produced the Czech Film Academy's top prize since 1993
• Browse the factory shop, selling a wide range of crystal directly from the makers at production prices

What to do

• Join a guided factory tour (45 minutes) to follow glass from furnace to finished piece
• Try glass cutting or blowing yourself in one of the hands-on workshops (booking required)

What to buy

• Hand-cut crystal vases, bowls, and glasses direct from the workshop, quality unmatched at this price outside the factory

Take note

• Tours run daily; book in advance at ruckl.com/en/cms/1/glassworks-visit