Krivoklat Castle

Krivoklat castle is one not yet fully discovered by the tourists, yet it is one of the most beautiful and authentic in the Czech Republic. It is located in a very green, hilly area on the river Berounka, east of Prague. The castle of Křivoklát belongs to the oldest and most important castles of the Czech princes and kings. The history of its construction starts in the 12th century.

The Krivoklat Castle was founded during 12th century, originaly built as a hunting castle for royalty, later transformed into a prison.
During the reign of Přemysl Otakar II. a large, monumental royal castle was built to be later rebuilt by king Václav IV. and even later generously enlarged by king Vladislav of Jagellon.

The castle of Křivoklát was seriously damaged by fire several times.

It became a feared prison and its importance sank rapidly. First during the Romantic époque of the 19th century (when under rule of the family of Fürstenberg that owned the castle until 1929) the castle was reconstructed - and saved.

During an approximately one hour tour you can see library consisting of over 24000 books and rare manuscripts, torture device exhibition and much more.

See a beautiful castle chapel, the Great Royal and Chivalric Halls

with an exhibition of Gothic paintings and sculptures, the castle library containing over 52.000 bands, a rich museum and a painting gallery of the Fürstenberg, a famous castle prison with torture chambers and torture instruments, a monumental tower with a collection of hunting trophies and a view of the surrounding area, a pleasant walk around the castle walls, the tower Huderka with an open-hearth kitchen and an observatory gallery, the seat of the captain with temporary exhibitions…all of this and much more belongs to Křivoklát, a national cultural monument.

More informations : http://www.krivoklat.cz/en/