- Address: Křivoklát 47, 270 23 Křivoklát, Czech Republic
- Year of foundation: 1230.
- Phone: +420 313 558 440
One of the most famous castles in the Czech Republic is Křivoklát (Hrad Křivoklát), the Germans call it Pürglitz (Pürglitz). It is the oldest in Europe and is protected by the World Organization of UNESCO. Every year it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists.
What is famous for the palace?
This medieval castle is located in the Central Bohemian Region, the Rakovnik district. It was built in the Gothic style in 1230 and was intended for Bohemian kings Krivoklat. In 1989, the construction was declared a National Cultural Monument. Křivoklát Castle has a rich history and is considered the most mysterious in the region. A large number of legends are associated with it, the most famous are:
- History of the philosopher's stone. According to legend, it was created by an English alchemist named Edward Kelly, who did not want to give his piece to the monarch and hid it in the walls of the castle of Křivoklát. The famous rebiys were searched several times, but so far they have not been found.
- The legend of the singing of nightingales , which only pregnant women hear. In 1335 the wife of Charles the Fourth gave birth to a child. For joy, the happy father gathered all the birds in the district and placed them near the windows of his wife.
History of the Castle of Křivoklát in the Czech Republic
The palace was built by the order of the King of Bohemia, Premysl Otakar the First, and was completed during the reign of Wenceslas II. The place for this was chosen on a high hill, which overgrew a thick forest. The rulers of the country, together with their court, often came here to hunt.
During its history, the building was damaged and altered several times. At the same time, its appearance has been preserved since the XIII century, therefore the castle evokes interest not only among visitors, but also among historians with archaeologists. Here ruled not only Czech kings, but also Polish, as well as Austrian.
Description of sight
The palace consists of a main building and a chapel with an altar. The structure is crowned by a large cylindrical tower, its height is 42 m. A ladder with 72 stairs leads to it. At the top is the observation deck of Křivoklát Castle, from which you can make stunning photos.
Most of all the attention of tourists is attracted by such internal premises as:
- Room without windows and doors. In it, the criminals were condemned, sentenced to starvation.
- The hall is for solemn receptions , which impresses with its size. Here is stored a unique collection of hunting trophies.
- Library . In it you can see more than 50 thousand books, incunabula and manuscripts written in different languages in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Some specimens were created with a gold needle.
- The chapel . It is surrounded by sculptures of 12 apostles, and at the altar there is a statue of Christ and two angels who have gilded wings.
- The torture chamber . Here are stored iron stands, hills, ticks and other tools used by executioners.
- Picture gallery . In this room are the works of famous artists and sculptors of the time.
- Knight's Hall . Here is a solid collection of weapons.
Features of visit
Křivoklát Castle is open all year round, but the working time depends on the season:
- from November to March you can get here from 10:00 to 15:00;
- in April and October the palace closes at 16:00;
- in May-June and September - at 17:00;
- In July and August, most tourists come here, so the castle is open from 09:00 to 15:00.
On Monday there is a day off, from January to March the palace is closed on Sunday, and in November and December it can only be visited on weekends. The cost of the ticket is $ 13.5 for the whole family, $ 5 for adults and $ 3.5 for children from 7 years. Children under 6 years old admission is free. If you decide to hire a guide, you will have to pay about $ 2 for each tourist. At the entrance give out guidebooks describing all the sights in Russian.
How to get to the Castle of Krivoklat from Prague?
From the capital of the Czech Republic you can reach the palace by car on the highway №236 and D6 or D5 / E50. The distance is about 50 km. Also, the castle can be reached with an organized tour . There are no direct buses or trains from Prague .