Karlstejn Castle & Krivoklat Castle - Prague Tours

Private day trips from Prague to Karlstejn Castle and Krivoklat Castle

If you are looking for a Gothic experience, do not hesitate to visit the two most beautiful Gothic castles in the country. Karlstejn Castle was built by Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1348 as a place of safekeeping for the royal treasures, especially Emperor Charles IV’s collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. Before we head to the next Gothic jewel, Krivoklat Castle, we will stop for a typical Czech lunch at a traditional restaurant located in the picturesque village under Karlstejn Castle. As we drive through a nature reserve, you can gaze at the forest, rivers, and villages.

Prague – Karlastejn Castle – Krivoklat Castle: 8-hour Itinerary

45 minutes Prague to Karlstejn transfer
30 minutes Walk/horse carriage/taxi from the village of Karlstejn to the castle
1 hours Tour of Karlstejn Castle and its courtyards (Route 1)
30 minutes walk from the castle to the village of Karlstejn
1 hour Lunch in the village of Karlstejn (under Karlstejn Castle)
45 minutes Karlstejn to Krivoklat transfer
1,5 hour Tour of Krivoklat Castle interiors
30 min Visiting the Krivoklat area
1-hour Krivoklat to Prague transfer

This is a private tour, so the itinerary can be adjusted as you wish.

Karlstejn Castle

The fortress-like Karlstejn Castle served as the emperor’s summer retreat. Over 660 years old, Karlstejn Castle was never totally conquered. The castle even survived a seven-month siege by the Hussites in the 15th  century. Route 1, the most visited tour of Karlstejn Castle, includes historical interiors of the Imperial Palace and the lower floors of the Marian Tower with valuable artifacts from the 14th   to 19th centuries. A wooden bed boasts stunning engravings. On the walls surrounding it hangs a green with gold fabric that shows phoenixes and other mythological creatures. In Charles IV’s personal chapel to Saint Wenceslas, there is a 14th-century portable altar full of vibrant colors. In the Throne Room, the 14th-century ceiling is composed of dark green squares with wooden frames. A gold ball decorates the middle of each square. The Hall of Forebears features large portraits of the emperor’s ancestors.

Karlstejn Castle – Admission fees and Opening times

Admission fees: Route 1: 270 CZK / adult; children from 6 years old, students, seniors over 65: 180 CZK / person. This year Karlstejn Castle will be open daily except Mondays, from January 1 until January 6; in February on the weekends: 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, and 24th; from March 1 until November 10 and on the weekends of the 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 29th and 30th of November; and in December on the 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd  and from December 25 until December 31 daily (closed on December 24). It also will be open from January 1 until January 5 of 2014. The castle will be open on Easter Monday and on Czech Independence Day, Monday, October 28.

Krivoklat Castle

First mentioned at the beginning of the 12th century, Krivoklat Castle was completed in early Gothic style when the Přemyslid dynasty ruled the Czech lands in the 13th  and the beginning of the 14th  centuries. The upper courtyard and tower that can be climbed today hail as far back as the 13th  century. Krivoklat Castle was reconstructed and expanded in the 14th  and 15th  centuries when Czech king and later Roman king Václav IV reigned. Then dark days came as Krivoklat was conquered by both the Hussites and the Catholics during the Hussite wars in the 1400s. Historical figures spent time in the prison that is visited on the tour. The future emperor Charles IV was imprisoned here as a child for three years. The gem of the tour is one of the best-preserved Gothic chapels in Europe, with an altar hailing from 1490. The library, put together in the 18th century, is daunting with its 53,000 volumes. The portrait gallery is well worth a visit and features ceramics, such as jugs, vases, and plates as well as paintings. Take advantage of the spectacular views from the ramparts and the 42-meter high tower. It takes 72 steps on a narrow, winding staircase to get to the top of the 13th-century structure.

Krivoklat Castle – Admission fees and opening times

Admission: 240 CZK / person; children under 14 and seniors over 65: 170 CZK / person. Open all year: from January 2 until March 22 open on Saturdays from noon until 2 pm; from March 24 until October 31 open daily except Mondays and from November 1 until December 31 open on weekends and holidays.

Try your hand at archery

While waiting for a tour, it is possible to visit various shops in the main courtyard. One small store sells coins embossed with pictures of the castle, while another specializes in items made from wood. Ceramics are also for sale. You can even try your hand at archery.

Hiking around Krivoklat Castle

The Castle is situated in a stunning nature reserve with many hiking trails providing spectacular views of Krivoklat Castle, so it is possible to combine a tour of Krivoklat Castle with a hiking trip for an outing that lasts an entire day. Contact us for more information, and fill in the request form below.