Karlštejn castle has an unique position among Czech castles. It was founded in 1348 by the Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of royal treasures, especially Charles’ collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire.
The castle became a place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels at the outbreak of the Hussite wars. They were kept there, with the exception of several short-time breaks, for nearly 200 years. Karlštejn was reconstructed in the Late Gothic style after 1480 and in Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century. Its present appearance is the result of the last reconstruciton, which was carried out in the puristic Neo-Gothic style by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th century. The orginal step-like order of building is very impressive – you walk up from the well tower and the Burgrave’s palace located as the lowest up to the majestic five-floored Imperial palace and futher up toward the Marian tower. The monumental 60 m high and separately fortified Great tower stands at the top of the headland.
The castle became a place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels at the outbreak of the Hussite wars. They were kept there, with the exception of several short-time breaks, for nearly 200 years. Karlštejn was reconstructed in the Late Gothic style after 1480 and in Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century. Its present appearance is the result of the last reconstruciton, which was carried out in the puristic Neo-Gothic style by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th century. The orginal step-like order of building is very impressive – you walk up from the well tower and the Burgrave’s palace located as the lowest up to the majestic five-floored Imperial palace and futher up toward the Marian tower. The monumental 60 m high and separately fortified Great tower stands at the top of the headland.
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