*The tour does not run (the castle is closed): Dec. 12 - 16, Dec.
19. - 23, 2011 Jan 9 - Feb. 28, 2012
What You Will See: Karlštejn
Castle, Route I (closed in winter - see below), and
town
Note:The
tour includes a 20-30-minute moderately strenuous climb
to the castle on foot. You can take
a
horse-drawn carriage or taxi for approx. 150 CZK/person.
A one-hour ride through pretty countryside
will get you to one of the Czech Republic's most visited castles.
The Karlštejn Castle was founded by Czech king and Holy Roman
emperor Charles
IV (Karel IV.) in 1348, the same year when the king founded
Prague's New Town and Charles University. The hill-top castle
surrounded by forests was built to hold the royal treasures and coronation
jewels of the Holy Roman Empire, and served as the
king's retreat. The Czech coronation jewels were also kept there
for almost 200 years during and after the Hussite wars in the
15th and 16th century. After arriving
back in Prague, you will be dropped off on Old Town Square or, if a large bus is used, at the Hotel
Intercontinental located within a 10-minute walk from the Old
Town Square.
Route II can be booked as a private
tour for groups of 4 - 12 people (only from June 1 to October
31). You can read more about Karlštejn Castle and the two routes
on our Karlštejn
Castle page.
