Karlstejn Castle:
Located 18 miles (29km) from the Czech capital, Karlstejn Castle is a great day trip from Prague. Situated to the southwest of Prague, Karlstejn is a medieval castle that dates back to the 14th century.
Built by Charles IV, the King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, Karlstejn Castle was commissioned to guard the crown jewels.
The most famous part of Karlstejn Castle is the Chapel of the Holy Rood, which boasts of a gallery with panel paintings by the Master Theodoricus and more than two thousand precious and semiprecious stones covering its walls.
Tours of Karlstejn Castle:
There are two tours available for Karlstejn Castle:
Tour 1 (50 min.): Imperial Palace, Hall of Knights, St. Nicholas Chapel, Bedroom, and the Audience Hall.
Tour 2 (70 minutes):Chapel of the Holy Rood, Chapel of St. Catherine, Charles IV’s Oratory, Church of Our Lady, and Library.
Note: Reservations for touring the Chapel of the Holy Rood must be made ahead of time.
Karlstejn Castle Opening Hours:
The castle is open Tues-Sun, Mar-Dec.
Apr, Oct: 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm
May, Jun, Sept: 9am-12pm and 12:30pm-5pm
July, Aug: 9am-12pm and 12:30pm-6pm
Nov, Dec, Mar: 9am-12pm and 1pm-3pm
Transportation from Prague to Karlstejn Castle:
Trains from Prague to Karlstejn Castle: Trains run regularly from Prague’s Hlavni Nadrazi and Smichov train stations to Karlstejn. The train stops approximately 1.8 miles from the castle. From the station, you can walk up the hill to get to the Karlstejn Castle. Train tickets from Prague to Karlstejn cost around 50Kc and the journey takes approximately 45m each way.
Driving from Prague to Karlstejn Castle: Take Highway 4 towards Strakonice and take the Karlstejn cutoff. Follow the signs to the castle. Driving from Prague to Karlstejn castle takes approximately 30m each way.
Other Short Trips from Prague:
