About the castle
The ancient hunting castle Křivoklát is located in the valley of the Berun River near the town of Rakovnik, which is 40 kilometers from Prague. It was built in the 11th century for the Přemyslid princes, so that the princes could come here for hunting and recreation with their retinue. Now in the former hunting grounds - a nature reserve protected by UNESCO.
Initially, the place where the castle is located was called Křivoplat - a combination of the Czech word krivy and the German word Platte, which can be translated as "Castle on a crooked square." Gradually, the word in the speech was changed to the familiar Czech ear with the ending klat (deck) - Krzhivoklat.
History of the castle
Over the 900-year history, the owners of the castle changed more than once, who completed it at their own discretion. In the 13th century, the settlements of the early Middle Ages began to be replaced by stone castles, and here they began to build a castle with a fortress wall and a donjon, a majestic tower that has survived to this day. Later, new towers were built, a rectangular palace with locks, of which only memories remain in the form of a Romanesque window on the ground floor.
At the beginning of the 13th century, by order of Přemysl Otakar, outbuildings were built here, wings were attached to the upper castle, and the lower part of the palace was reconstructed. After Křivoklát Castle underwent several more transformations, as a result of which it received the appearance of a Gothic castle of the early period. The large front hall occupied the first floor of the western palace entirely. As a result, by the end of the possession of the Přemyslids, Křivoklát became a complex structure of seven parts, with three towers and many outbuildings.
In the 14th century, the castle was owned by the nobleman Wilhelm Zayitz from Waldeck, and when there was a big fire, the castle was badly damaged. Zayits was not involved in the restoration of the castle and could not delay its destruction. The catastrophic decline of the castle did not please King Charles IV and he decided to return it to the Crown. He understood the strategic importance of this place and in the last years of his reign he commissioned a major rebuilding of Křivoklát. A new wide road now led to the castle, the area of \u200b\u200bthe castle as a whole was increased. The wall encircling the castle increased its defense capability.
The son of Charles IV - Wenceslas IV made Křivoklát one of the representative castles of his time. But the fire of 1422 and the subsequent captures of Křivoklát by Catholic and Hussite troops caused irreparable damage to the building.
The heyday of Křivoklát Castle came in the 15th century, when it became the residence of King Vladislav Jagiellonian. Under him, Křivoklát took on the appearance of a late Gothic castle. The upper castle was completely rebuilt, the once built wall was removed between the castles, a chapel with a carved wooden altar was built. Bay windows and a magnificent vault transformed the Great Hall. Reliefs with portraits of King Vladislav and his son Louis were installed on the parapet. After perestroika, Křivoklát turned into a luxurious residence, but it became not a place of royal celebrations, but a place of solitude and relaxation for the monarch. In the future, Czech monarchs, for reasons that are not clear today, treated the castle with disdain. For example, during the reign of Rudolph II, a prison for swindlers of a noble family and state criminals was located in the castle. The alchemist Edward Kelly, bishop of the community of Czech brothers Jan August, was imprisoned in the Round Tower of Křivoklát for several years.
But there was something about the estate that Rudolph liked. In 1583, he acquired a brewery that produced the Krusovice drink and attached it to the estate.
A good location, an abundance of high-quality barley, hops, water - all this contributed to the development and prosperity of the plant. But in the 17th century, the Habsburgs no longer needed the castle and the factory.
In 1658, Křivoklát was pledged to the Schwarzenbergers, then sold to Arnost Joseph of Waldstein, and finally to the Fürstenbergs, who took up brewing again.
Since the second half of the 19th century, Křivoklát Castle began to be restored, in which the architects Josef Mokker, Humbert Walcher von Moltein, Camila Huberta took part. But in 1929 the state became the owner of the castle Křivoklát.
The massive entrance to the castle is lined with stone blocks, and the steps of the stairs are carved from solid sandstone slabs.
Stained-glass windows, windows with hexagonal bars, doors with forged locks, and painted panels have been preserved in several rooms. And unique pieces of furniture - for example, a table with inlay from different types of wood, folding into the image of Křivoklát. The most majestic building is the Royal Hall, which is second in size only to the Vladislav Hall in the Old Palace of Prague.
The castle chapel has not changed much. A carved altar in the Flaming Gothic style, the armrests of the chairs are made in the form of dragons, symbolizing evil. The wooden sculpture in the chapel invariably attracts attention - the thoroughness of the work is simply amazing - on the composition dedicated to the death of the Virgin Mary, images of 20 people are carved and all this is meter by meter in size!
The interior of the Queen's Wing is dedicated to the inhabitant of the castle, Philippine Welser, and is imbued with the spirit of the Renaissance. In the art gallery you can admire the works of masters of the 16th-20th centuries - genre scenes, landscapes, still lifes, portraits of historical figures.
The library of Křivoklát contains more than 53,000 volumes, including old and unique editions, such as the 11th century Psalter.
The library has exhibition halls. In one, there is an exposition of ancient sledges with openwork carvings and baroque paintings. There are sleds for women with an interesting design. Under the seat there was a box sheathed with metal from the inside, in which red-hot bricks were put, so the seat remained warm for a long time.
Also in the exhibition hall you can see a collection of ancient guild flags and standards with peaks at the top.
The Big Tower itself impresses with its size: 32 meters high, outer walls 9 meters thick, inner 3 meters. It was possible to get into it only through a hole at a height of 15 meters, using a ladder.
Castle open:
in April, September 09.00–16.00, daily except Monday;
in May - August 09.00–17.00, daily except Monday;
in October 09.00–15.00, daily except Monday;
in November - December (until 20.12) 09.00–15.00, only on weekends and holidays;
from 20.12 to 01.04 the castle is closed for visitors.
Tour price:
for adults - 150 Kč;
for children, students and pensioners - 80 Kč.
How to contact: +420 313 558 440; 313 558 440
Křivoklát Castle(Pürglitz for Germans) is a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic, located to the west of Prague in the Rakovnik region of the Central Bohemian Region (Bohemia).
History and legends of the castle
According to some sources, the mysterious fortress of Czech princes and kings, Křivoklát, arose during the reign of Přemysl Otakar the First (12th century). The monumental royal haven for hunting and entertainment was rebuilt by order of Emperor Charles IV, at that time called Wenceslas. The final fortification was completed by Vladislav Jagiello.
Interesting fact. Wanting to cheer up the young wife Blanca Valois, who was missing entertainment, Charles IV ordered to catch vocal nightingales around the neighborhood. At sunset, the birds were released along the path along which the pregnant Blanca walked. The wife cheered up from the wonderful bird choir. The birds settled down to live under the walls of the castle. The path is now called "singing".
Several times Křivoklát was severely damaged by fires. It was used in the 16th century as a state prison for important people sentenced to imprisonment. The attractiveness of the architectural work has disappeared.
1733. Representatives of the princely family of Furstenberg redeem the property that has fallen into disrepair.
1826. Eliminating the consequences of a severe fire, the owners restore the palace building after
1929 The Fürstenberg family sells the residence to the state. For some time, a brewery has been operating on its territory.
The second half of the 70s: archaeologists and historians begin scientific research work, the building is being reconstructed.
Interesting fact. Emperor Rudolph II sent the alchemist Edward Kelly to Krshivoklat in prison. The scientist, despite the huge funds spent and numerous laboratory studies, failed to produce the magisterium (elixir of life). Being a prisoner of Křivoklát, he lived there for 2 years. When the alchemist died, it became known that he managed to discover the chemical formula of the magisterium, and he hid it in the secret of the castle. The king's servants examined meter by meter, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
1989. Křivoklát is declared a cultural heritage of the Czech state. The museum exposition opens to the general public.
Attractions Křivoklát
The dominant feature of the castle complex is the Gothic-style chapel with a fifteenth-century altar, near which Jesus is depicted, surrounded by flying golden angels with wings. At the top are twelve statues of the apostles.
Of exceptional historical value is the royal library collection, collected by Carl Egon von Ebert, a German-Bohemian poet. The library has fifty-three thousand old editions in printed and manuscript form.
Interesting fact. Eleven kilograms and two thousand five hundred pages are the characteristics of the largest book in the library.
The Royal Hall of the Křivoklát Castle in the Czech Republic occupies the 2nd position after the Prague Hall in terms of importance.
The Hall of Knights is filled with an exposition of beautiful sculptures, items of royal hunting, and various collectible weapons.
The gallery provides visitors with a collection of fine art of the Gothic direction.
In order to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes, you need to go up 72 steps to the tower structure 42 meters high. And going down to the basement, the tourist is horrified by the sight of prison cells, torture devices.
At the end of the tour, visitors are invited to shoot from a crossbow or bow. Those who wish can purchase products from souvenir shops.
How to get to the castle
To see the unique Křivoklát Castle, you need to know how to get to it from Prague. The tourist can use 3 ways:
- By rail from Prague Central Station to Beroun station, then by electric train to Křivoklát, from the station it will take a quarter of an hour to walk.
- Buses for tourists circulate from the Florenc bus station in Prague on Saturdays and Sundays.
- By car, you will need to drive fifty kilometers in the direction from Prague to Karlovy Vary (E48) or along the highway called Via Carolina (E50), connecting Prague and Nuremberg (Germany).
The road to the fortress passes through a biosphere reserve, which is under the protection of UNESCO. At a distance of 250-300 meters there are several parking lots.
The administration of the museum complex has created an accessible environment for people with disabilities.
Dogs on a leash are allowed.
Křivoklát, unlike many palaces in the Czech Republic, is open to visitors all year round.
From January to March, the castle is open 6 days a week, except Sundays. From November to December working days - Saturday, Sunday.
Tour fee in crowns (CZK)
Guided tours are available for organized groups of at least 10 people. You can order three days before the planned visit to the castle and on weekdays by e-mail [email protected].
The first courtyard of the castle provides an opportunity to visit the tavern, whose opening hours coincide with the events of the museum complex.
Well, I had nowhere to go - I'm going alone. I tried to stealthily take pictures, then the guide barked at me, and I had to remove the camera (for a short while, but he did not know about it).
Now, perhaps, a little about the history of the castle itself:
Křivoklát was built as a hunting castle. The first mention of it refers to 1110, but archaeologists do not confirm this fact. According to historical data, the castle arose in the 12th century on the site of a medieval fortress, first mentioned in 1190. In the first half of the 13th century, Křivoklát Castle was used as the residence of Czech kings. After the fire in Prague Castle in 1316, Eliska Přemyslovna moved to this castle. Here the future Emperor Charles IV lived part of his childhood, it was from here that he left for France and returned here with his pregnant wife Blanca Valois. Their daughter, Margarita, was born in the same castle.
The castle repeatedly burned in the flames of a fire, which was not uncommon in those days, and, perhaps, not a single castle escaped this fate. In Křivoklát, a door is shown burnt by the flames of one of the fires.
Interesting fact: in the XVI-XVII centuries, the castle, restored after fires, was used as a prison for especially important criminals. Thus, within the walls of this castle, or rather in one very uncomfortable and dark room without windows, the famous alchemist Edward Kelly, who was exiled by Emperor Rudolf II for unsuccessful attempts to get the philosopher's stone, was imprisoned. But Kelly did not give up and all the time spent in prison continued to work on the cherished formula. Later, he was transported to another castle, where he tragically died while trying to escape, and the emperor himself visited the castle-prison and searched it with prejudice, but did not find the coveted formula.
By the middle of the 17th century, the Habsburgs, who were sitting on the throne at that time, were losing interest in the castle. So in 1658 Křivoklát was founded by the Schwarzenbergs, and in 1685 the castle was bought by the Wallensteins. And already in 1733 the castle-fortress passed into the possession of the Furstenbergs. Then, in 1826, there was another fire, and thanks to this, the new owners began its reconstruction, which lasted almost 100 years. In 1929, the castle was sold to the state for 119 million Czech crowns, and to this day it is the property of the Czech Republic. The castle is under state protection.
I will not describe the inner courtyards of the castle and its halls for a long time - whoever is interested can easily get to it from Prague. I would like to say a separate word about the castle chapel, the castle library, the Fürstenberg Museum, the Middle part of the museum and the Great Hall of the Queen's wing.
castle chapel is the pride of Křivoklát, more precisely the pride of the castle is the altar of the chapel. It was made around 1492 by an unknown craftsman and has been preserved in its original form. In its upper part are the figures of the suffering Christ surrounded by two angels. On the inside of the altar wings there are also paintings by an unknown master. A new balcony was built over the entrance hall of the chapel. In the front part there is a 17th-century pewter font. The chapel is still used for festive services.
Castle Library. It was founded by Joseph Wilhelm I Fürstenberg in the middle of the 18th century. At one time, the library was in third place after the university library and the library of the Strahov Monastery. Its collection includes 53 thousand volumes, and to this day it is one of the richest libraries in the Czech Republic. It contains calendars of the 10th century, as well as books dated to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The library stock contains 70 Czech manuscripts and a collection of Bible editions.
Furstenberg Museum. It contains a gallery of portraits of the Furstenbergs. I managed to take a photo, the quality, of course, is terrible, but I didn’t have time to frame the shot - a sharp-sighted guide was always there.
how to get there, what to see in the castle Krivoklat.
Křivoklát Castle located in the "Czech Paradise" 59 km from Prague, 25 km from the town of Beroun. A trip to Křivoklát can be combined with a visit to the castle Karlstejn , canyons . krivoklat very beautiful castle. I liked it both inside and out. Large courtyard, beautiful interiors. The castle was founded in the 12th century, during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II, and acquired its current form in a romantic style after the reconstruction completed at the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, the Furstenberg family owned the castle.
Despite the solid elements of the fortifications, Křivoklát Castle gives the impression of lightness of buildings.
Courtyard castle Křivoklát quite extensive, you can climb the passages between parts of the castle.
Here you can see part of the castle wall. Křivoklát Castle is endowed with some insane positive energy. I still remember visiting this castle with great warmth. Maybe the reason for this is the gentlemen (beer house), located in the courtyard of the castle. They serve excellent sausages and of course beer. Crossbow shooting competitions are held in the courtyard.
IN castle Křivoklát there is quite a rich exposition inside the castle. Available for viewing gothic palace, gothic chapel. In the knight's hall (one of the largest in the Czech Republic), there is a large collection of weapons. Entrance to the castle grounds is free, excursions inside the castle are paid.
krivoklat- a castle where you can wander, appreciate the power of the fortifications and the beauty of the interior.
In 1929, the Fürstenbergs sold the castle to the Czech government, currently castle Křivoklát is a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
Schedule of visits to the castle Křivoklát.
| 03.01- 25.0 3 | daily (except Sunday) | 10-15 h |
| 26.03- 30.04 | 10-16 h | |
| 01.05 - 31.0 5 | daily (except Monday) | 10-17 h |
| 01.06 - 30.06 | daily (except Monday) | 09-17 h |
| 01.07 - 31.08 | daily (except Monday) | 09-18 h |
| 01.09 - 30.09 | daily (except Monday) | 09-17 h |
| 01.10 - 31.10 | daily (except Monday) | 10-16 h |
| 01. 11 - 30. 11 | 10-15 h | |
| 01. 12 - 31. 12 | Saturday, Sunday, public holidays | 10-15 h |
How to get to Křivoklát Castle?
The best way to get to the castle is by car. With or without. 250 meters from castle Křivoklát There is a paid car park.
You can take a bus (32 minutes) or a train (36 minutes) from Prague to Beroun, then from Beroun to Křivoklát by train (41 minutes). The route can be calculated here: An excellent site for planning routes in the Czech Republic and not only , this site is a good tool for solo travelers.
Estimated cost of visiting Košivoklát Castle is shown in the table:
| Access (with guide) | Foreigners | ||
| Full
CZK/person |
benefit. CZK/person |
Family | |
| 1 zone -gothic palace | 160 crowns | 120 crowns | - |
| 2 zone -the whole castle | 240 CZK | 170 CZK | - |
Benefits are provided to children under 15 years old, students under 25 years old, pensioners.
I will visit this castle again.
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The Czech Republic is one of the most beautiful European countries. In many ways, it received this status due to the huge number of well-preserved castles. To the west of Prague is the royal castle of Křivoklát, which is visited by thousands of tourists every year. It is worth noting that Křivoklát has a solid history - this is one of the most mysterious castles in the Czech Republic, many legends are associated with it. In addition, scientists still cannot determine exactly in what year the Křivoklát castle was built.
Křivoklát has a solid history - it is one of the most mysterious castles in the Czech Republic, many legends are associated with it.
The first mention of it was back in 1110, but the earliest masonry of the castle is considered to be the one that was made in the 13th century. That is why historians suggest that the castle mentioned in the annals and today's Křivoklát are two different buildings. However, there is no single version. Most likely, Křivoklát was founded in the 13th century by the king of the Czech Republic, Premysl Otakar the First. The castle acquired a finished look during the reign of Wenceslas the First, who was very fond of hunting and often visited here. Křivoklát became a kind of castle for men: it was here that members of royal families and aristocrats came to hunt. Here they stayed for several days in a row - they rested not only from business, but sometimes from their wives, talked, enjoyed delicious beer from a local brewery and discussed hunting trophies.
Subsequently, the castle was not used for a long time and fell into disrepair. The owners changed, but were in no hurry to put the building in order. Only in the 16th century, Křivoklát was reconstructed and after that it did not radically change its appearance. In 1929 the castle became the property of the state.
Throughout its history, Křivoklát suffered greatly from fires. The fire was merciless to the castle building - by and large, Křivoklát burned every 200 years starting from 1422.
An excursion to the castle will be of interest to many tourists, as there is something to see in Křivoklát. For example, here is the library of Czech kings, which contains 53 thousand old books. It is worth noting that some copies are of particular value, as they were printed with a gold needle. In the knight's hall, attention should be paid to a solid collection of weapons. Among other things, there is also an art gallery. It is better for the faint of heart travelers not to go down to the basement: there are prison cells and instruments of torture. You can also see the room without windows and doors, where the prisoners were left to die without water and food. In addition, there is a collection of historical sledges.
Do not be lazy to go through 72 steps leading to the 42-meter tower of the castle. From here you have a beautiful view of the territory of Křivoklát.
Castle legends
A huge number of legends are associated with this castle. Three of them can be called the most famous. The first is related to the philosopher's stone. Emperor Rudolph II invited the English alchemist Edward Kelly to his place so that he could get the philosopher's stone for the ruler. The scientist received at his disposal a laboratory and an unlimited amount of money for his experiments, but he could not get the stone. In 1591, Rudolf II realized that Kelly could not do anything, and sent him to Křivoklát, which at that time was used as a prison. The alchemist spent two years in prison and after that he agreed to again conduct experiments and work for the emperor. However, the philosopher's stone was never found, and Edward Kelly ended up in another prison - Gnevin Castle. In 1597, he died during an unsuccessful escape from captivity. According to the legend, Kelly was still able to obtain the formula of the philosopher's stone, but did not want to reveal it to Rudolf II and hid it somewhere in Křivoklát. According to legend, after the death of the scientist, the king searched the entire castle, but did not find anything.
The second legend says that pregnant women will certainly hear the singing of nightingales here. The legend is connected with the fact that in 1335 Blanca Valois, the wife of Charles IV, gave birth to a daughter, Marketa, in the castle. To thank his wife, the happy father ordered to gather all the nightingales in the district and settle them under the windows of his wife.
Another legend is connected with the name of the tower Guderka, which comes from the Czech word "hudba" (hudba) - "music". The fact is that in the 16th and 17th centuries Křivoklát was used as a prison for especially important criminals. The torture chamber was located just under the tower, and, of course, the infernal cries of the prisoners could be heard from there. To drown out the groans, musicians often played in the tower, and at the highest possible volume.
Practical information
Křivoklát is open all year round. November-March - from 10:00 to 15:00; April and October - until 16:00; May-June and September - until 17:00; July-August - until 18:00. Day off - Monday, in January-March - Sunday. In November-December, the castle is open only on Saturdays and Sundays.
There are two types of entrance tickets. Inspection of the Gothic Palace - 170 CZK, children under six years old - free of charge, over six years old - 120 CZK, family ticket (two adults and up to three children) - 460 CZK. Full sightseeing tour in a foreign language - 340 CZK.
It is most convenient to buy a tour in advance at the agency or come on your own by car. Getting there by public transport is more difficult, since there are no direct trains and buses from Prague. You will have to change at Beroun or Rakovnik. Prices on the page are for April 2019.
