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Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.

Karlštejn, Středočeský kraj

Hrad Karlštejn

Charles IV’s castle above the Berounka: imperial rooms, chapels with medieval paintings and a treasury that once held coronation jewels.

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Il luogo

Hrad Karlštejn

Karlštejn rises in stages from service buildings to the Great Tower, where imperial jewels and relics were kept. Charles IV founded the castle in 1348. By 1355 he was staying in the residence and overseeing the work; the consecration of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in 1365 concluded the main building phase.

In the Imperial Palace, the story centres on domestic life and courtly representation. Beyond lies the world of the castle chapels: the Marian church, the small Chapel of St Catherine and the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The latter’s 129 panel paintings from Master Theodoric’s workshop depict saints, Church Fathers and rulers. Gilding and stone cladding surrounded objects invested with particular religious and political significance.

The present silhouette also results from later rebuilding. Renaissance alterations and nineteenth-century restoration under Josef Mocker changed many parts of the complex. A model in the Burgrave House helps compare the earlier castle with the buildings standing on the rock today. The Well Tower explores the residence’s everyday services and the drawing of water from a deep shaft.

The official programmes reveal different parts of the castle. “Císařská rezidence Karla IV.” covers chambers and treasuries; “Karlštejnské hradní kaple” explores sacred interiors; “Celým hradem” ends in the upper Great Tower. “Kaple večerního Karlštejna” opens the interior of St Catherine’s Chapel and the presbytery of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. “Karlštejn jako uzavřená pevnost” connects gates, the well, chambers and chapels outside the usual visitor traffic. The separate “Na kafe s kastelánem” programme includes meeting the castle’s custodian and discussing its care. “Volně přístupným areálem Karlštejna”, an audio-guided walk, explores the freely accessible outdoor spaces.

Per bambini

Charles IV founded Karlštejn in 1348. He had rooms for living and receiving guests, while chapels held relics and coronation jewels. The buildings rise higher and higher: from the service area through the palace and Marian Tower to the Great Tower.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross contains 129 paintings on wooden panels. They were made in Master Theodoric’s workshop. The figures surrounded royal treasures. Elsewhere in the castle, a well and its old water-lifting mechanism survive. The residents needed water every day, whatever ceremonies were taking place at court.

The castle was rebuilt many times. Architect Josef Mocker worked on it in the nineteenth century. A model in the Burgrave House shows its earlier appearance.

Each visiting programme covers a different set of rooms. The residence tour explores court life, the chapels tour their religious purpose, and “Celým hradem” also visits the upper floors of the Great Tower. There are separate evening visits, tours outside the usual visitor traffic and meetings with the custodian who manages the castle. An audio-guided walk crosses the courtyards to the Well Tower. Choosing one tour does not mean entering every part of the castle.

Pubblico e condizioni di visita

  • Accompagnatore richiesto

    Intero luogo · 0-14 anni

    Children under 15 may enter only with an accompanying person over 18.

  • Informazione

    Attività: Karlštejn Castle Chapels · 0-6 anni

    The chapels programme is not recommended for children under 7: its long, demanding commentary is not adapted for them.

Notizie del luogo

Caricamento notizie…

Orari

January - castle schedule

1 gennaio – 31 gennaio

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
Chiuso
mercoledì
Chiuso
giovedì
Chiuso
venerdì
10:00–15:00
sabato
10:00–15:00
domenica
10:00–15:00

February - castle schedule

1 febbraio – 1 marzo

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
Chiuso
mercoledì
Chiuso
giovedì
Chiuso
venerdì
10:00–15:00
sabato
10:00–15:00
domenica
10:00–15:00

March - castle schedule

1 marzo – 31 marzo

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:30–16:00
mercoledì
09:30–16:00
giovedì
09:30–16:00
venerdì
09:30–16:00
sabato
09:30–16:00
domenica
09:30–16:00

April - castle schedule

1 aprile – 30 aprile

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:30–17:00
mercoledì
09:30–17:00
giovedì
09:30–17:00
venerdì
09:30–17:00
sabato
09:30–17:00
domenica
09:30–17:00

May - castle schedule

1 maggio – 31 maggio

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:30–17:30
mercoledì
09:30–17:30
giovedì
09:30–17:30
venerdì
09:30–17:30
sabato
09:30–17:30
domenica
09:30–17:30

June - castle schedule

1 giugno – 30 giugno

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:00–17:30
mercoledì
09:00–17:30
giovedì
09:00–17:30
venerdì
09:00–17:30
sabato
09:00–17:30
domenica
09:00–17:30

July - castle schedule

1 luglio – 31 luglio

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:00–18:00
mercoledì
09:00–18:00
giovedì
09:00–18:00
venerdì
09:00–18:00
sabato
09:00–18:00
domenica
09:00–18:00

August - castle schedule

1 agosto – 31 agosto

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:00–18:00
mercoledì
09:00–18:00
giovedì
09:00–18:00
venerdì
09:00–18:00
sabato
09:00–18:00
domenica
09:00–18:00

September - castle schedule

1 settembre – 30 settembre

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:30–17:30
mercoledì
09:30–17:30
giovedì
09:30–17:30
venerdì
09:30–17:30
sabato
09:30–17:30
domenica
09:30–17:30

October - castle schedule

1 ottobre – 31 ottobre

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
09:30–16:30
mercoledì
09:30–16:30
giovedì
09:30–16:30
venerdì
09:30–16:30
sabato
09:30–16:30
domenica
09:30–16:30

November - castle schedule

1 novembre – 30 novembre

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
Chiuso
mercoledì
Chiuso
giovedì
Chiuso
venerdì
10:00–15:00
sabato
10:00–15:00
domenica
10:00–15:00

December - castle schedule

1 dicembre – 25 dicembre

lunedì
Chiuso
martedì
Chiuso
mercoledì
Chiuso
giovedì
Chiuso
venerdì
10:00–15:00
sabato
10:00–15:00
domenica
10:00–15:00

26-31 December - castle schedule

26 dicembre – 31 dicembre

lunedì
10:00–15:00
martedì
10:00–15:00
mercoledì
10:00–15:00
giovedì
10:00–15:00
venerdì
10:00–15:00
sabato
10:00–15:00
domenica
10:00–15:00

Eccezioni

16 novembre 2026
10:00–15:00
17 novembre 2026
10:00–15:00
26 dicembre 2026
10:00–15:00
27 dicembre 2026
10:00–15:00
28 dicembre 2026
10:00–15:00
29 dicembre 2026
10:00–15:00
30 dicembre 2026
10:00–15:00
31 dicembre 2026
10:00–15:00
21 dicembre 2026
Chiuso
22 dicembre 2026
Chiuso
23 dicembre 2026
Chiuso
24 dicembre 2026
Chiuso
25 dicembre 2026
Chiuso

The table shows the castle’s general schedule from the visitor rules; it does not mean that all tours are available. In April and October the castle also opens on public holidays. Choose current tour times in ticket sales. Residence tour: the last group departs at closing time; its page confirms 1-3 January 2027, 10:00-15:00. Chapels: 1-31 October 2026, Tuesday-Sunday 10:05-16:05; 1 November 10:05-14:05; closed 2 November 2026-30 April 2027. Celým hradem: selected dates at 11:00; closed 1 November 2026-30 April 2027. Kaple večerního Karlštejna: closed 1 September 2026-30 April 2027. Karlštejn jako uzavřená pevnost: selected Mondays on the hour; closed 1 September 2026-30 June 2027. Na kafe s kastelánem: selected dates; closed 1 October 2026-30 April 2027. The audio-guided walk operates during access hours for the grounds without reservation; its detailed calendar is on the programme page.

Biglietti

Imperial Residence of Charles IV (basic tour)

Adults aged 25-64
300,00 CZK
Seniors 65+; young adults 18-24; ZTP/ZTP/P card holders
240,00 CZK
Children aged 6-17
90,00 CZK
Children aged 0-5 outside organised groups
gratuito
Children aged 0-5 in organised groups
60,00 CZK
Companion of a ZTP/P card holder
gratuito
School supervisor: 1 per 10 children
gratuito
Group guide: 1 for a group of at least 15
gratuito
Single-use or annual complimentary NPÚ ticket
gratuito
NPÚ employee and up to 3 family members
gratuito
Náš člověk card holder
gratuito
ICOMOS card holder
gratuito
Accredited journalist on assignment
gratuito
Guiding in a foreign language other than English or German
4000,00 CZK
Audio guide: EN/DE/RU/ES/FR/JA/IT
120,00 CZK
Fee for authorised interpretation
2500,00 CZK

Karlštejn Castle Chapels (selected tour)

Adults aged 25-64
640,00 CZK
Seniors 65+; young adults 18-24; ZTP/ZTP/P card holders
510,00 CZK
Children aged 6-17
190,00 CZK
Children aged 0-5 outside organised groups
190,00 CZK
Children aged 0-5 in organised groups
190,00 CZK
Companion of a ZTP/P card holder
gratuito
School supervisor: 1 per 10 children
gratuito
Group guide: 1 for a group of at least 15
gratuito
Single-use or annual complimentary NPÚ ticket
gratuito
NPÚ employee and up to 3 family members
gratuito
Náš člověk card holder
gratuito
Fee for authorised interpretation
2500,00 CZK

Explore the Entire Castle (exclusive tour)

Admission for every age category
1800,00 CZK
Companion of a ZTP/P card holder
gratuito

Chapels of Karlštejn by Night (exclusive tour)

Admission for every age category
1800,00 CZK
Companion of a ZTP/P card holder
gratuito

Karlštejn as a Closed Fortress (exclusive tour)

Admission for every age category
1800,00 CZK
Companion of a ZTP/P card holder
gratuito

Coffee with the Castellan (exclusive tour)

Admission for every age category
3500,00 CZK
Companion of a ZTP/P card holder
gratuito

Freely Accessible Grounds of Karlštejn (audio-guided walk)

Walk with the TourStories audio guide
gratuito

Prices apply to separate programmes, not a single ticket to the whole castle. Residence: 55 minutes, up to 45 people; reservation required for groups of more than 10, while individual reservations are not handled (online tickets are available). Chapels: 100 minutes, up to 16 people; reservations required for individuals too. Celým hradem: 180 minutes, up to 6 people; Kaple večerního Karlštejna: 120 minutes, up to 6; both sold only in advance or online. Karlštejn jako uzavřená pevnost: 180 minutes, up to 15; online purchase required. Na kafe s kastelánem: 180 minutes, up to 6, led by castellan Lukáš Kunst; includes coffee, cake, a welcome drink and light refreshments. Tickets in advance at the box office or online; reservations are not handled. Exclusive programmes do not accept the other concessions or complimentary NPÚ tickets; companions of ZTP/P card holders retain free admission. Personal cards apply only to the holder. The residence audio guide also requires a 500 CZK cash deposit. The free TourStories grounds walk takes about 40 minutes and does not replace tickets to the interiors.

Acquista i biglietti
Percorsi (6)
Oggetti e punti (10)
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.Painted staircase of the Great TowerThe approach to the chapel, with painted cycles devoted to Saints Wenceslas and Ludmila.
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.First castle gateThe beginning of the approach through successive levels of fortifications and open courtyards.
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.Burgrave HouseFormer administrative premises, with late Gothic interiors and a visitor centre.
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.Church of the Assumption of the Virgin MaryA former residential chamber converted for the chapter, with paintings of the Apocalypse.
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.St Catherine’s ChapelA small treasury chapel whose dedication and function changed over the castle’s history.
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.Royal Hall of AncestorsThe Luxembourg dynasty and its lost painted genealogy, known through a later record.
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.Imperial PalaceCharles IV’s rooms and a palace enlarged as the castle towers changed function.
  • Illustration of Karlštejn Castle with a tall tower and walls on a wooded hill.Well TowerThe castle well and its surviving water-lifting mechanism.
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Come arrivare

Posizione

Accessibilità

The main courtyard can be visited without negotiating stairs, although the stony approach may require assistance. There is no lift. The residence tour has 192 steps and the chapels tour 459. There are 73 steps from the courtyard to the well, with a return by the same route. Wheelchair visits to the interiors require advance arrangements and assistance on stairs. An accessible toilet is located by the Burgrave House entrance; ask staff for the key. Designated parking for eligible visitors is about 300 m from the first gate. The central car park is about 2 km from the castle; allow around 30 minutes to walk up. Dogs in the courtyards must be on a lead and muzzled; pets are not admitted to the interiors. Assistance dogs require prior permission, with access dependent on the route. Interior photography is permitted only where the guide specifies, without flash, tripods or selfie sticks.

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