Karlštejn Castle

Karlštejn is a large Gothic castle founded in 1348 by Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, in the village of Karlštejn in the Beroun district, roughly thirty kilometres southwest of Prague. It ranks among the most famous and most visited castles in the Czech Republic.

Why was Karlštejn built?

Charles IV commissioned the castle as a secure repository for the Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire, the Bohemian crown jewels, and an extensive collection of holy relics he had gathered. Construction began in 1348 and the works were considered complete in 1365, when the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower was consecrated. Charles IV first stayed at the castle in 1355 and personally oversaw the ongoing construction and decoration, taking particular interest in the chapels.

What makes the Chapel of the Holy Cross so remarkable?

The Chapel of the Holy Cross, housed in the Great Tower, was where the relics and crown jewels were actually kept, and it remains the castle's most valuable interior. Its walls carry a unique, original set of 129 paintings created by Master Theodoric, court painter to Charles IV. The panels depict saints and angels and were set into the plaster together with semi-precious stones, giving the chapel an unusually rich, jewel-like appearance. It is considered one of the best-preserved ensembles of Gothic panel painting in Central Europe.

How is the castle laid out?

Karlštejn sits on a hill, and its floor plan follows both defensive and sacred logic: the higher a space sits within the complex, the more important and better protected it was. The Great Tower with the Chapel of the Holy Cross occupies the highest and most fortified point of the whole site, reflecting the medieval idea that proximity to the top of the tower meant proximity to sanctity and to the safest possible custody of the crown treasures.

Why visit Karlštejn today?

The castle remains one of the country's signature sights and the most-visited historic monument in Czechia outside Prague itself. Its proximity to the capital — roughly thirty minutes to an hour by car or train — makes it a natural day-trip destination. The village of Karlštejn, spread along the Berounka river below the castle walls, largely lives off the tourist traffic the castle generates, offering restaurants and accommodation for visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Karlštejn Castle and when? Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, had it built between 1348 and 1365.

What was the castle's original purpose? It served as a secure treasury for the Imperial Regalia, the Bohemian crown jewels, and a collection of holy relics.

What is the must-see inside the castle? The Chapel of the Holy Cross, decorated with 129 paintings by Master Theodoric set into the plaster alongside semi-precious stones.

Where is the castle located and how far from Prague? It stands in the village of Karlštejn, Beroun district, about thirty kilometres from Prague — an easy day trip from the capital.