A NIGHT AT KARLŠTEJN – MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST

FAMOUS CZECH CASTLES

Daniel Cheníček

INTRODUCTION

Karlstejn Castle is one of the most fairy tale castles

The Castle was built in Gothic style in 1348-1365. It was built by Charles IV

The Imperial Regalia, crown jewels, holy relics and other royal treasures were kept there.

The Castle was built upon a rock calcic promontory

It is located about 30 kilometres southwest of Prague

DESCRIPTION

Karlštejn is a massive stone gothic castle. It consists of several separate buildings

The most important parts of the castle there are:

:The Well Tower

:The Burgrave House

:The Imperial Palace

:The Marian Tower

:The Big Tower

THE WELL TOWER

Although the well is 81 metres deep

An underground channel brings water from a nearby stream

THE BURGRAVE HOUSE

The Burgrave House was rebuilt many times

Now it is used for an administration of the castle and a lot of solemn rituals take place there.

THE IMPERIAL PALACE

The palace was a residence of a monarch

His family and his courtiers under Charles IV. and Václav IV.

THE MARIAN TOWER

The Marian tower is connected with The Imperial Palace by the bridge

There are valuable wall paintings with biblical motives in the church

On the first floor there is treasury

Visitors can see a copy of the crown of Saint Wenceslas there

THE BIG TOWER

The Big tower has the greatest fortification

The chapel was closed by four iron doors, locked by nine keys and watched by guardians.

HISTORY

This high gothic castle was founded in 1348 and has a unique position among Czech castles.

The first stay of Charles IV in the castle is documented in 1355

The construction of the castle was finished in 1365.

At the beginning of the Hussite wars, the castle became the place for safekeeping of the Czech coronation jewels

The castle was reconstructed in late Gothic style after 1480

The original step-like order of buildings is very impressive

And finally at the top there is the monumental 60m high and separately fortified Great Tower

FABLES ABOUT THE CASTLE

The history of Karlstejn contains many myths and incredible stories

One of the famous characters in the history of the castle was Václav Hájek z Libočan, well known for his Czech Chronicle

NO WO MAN CO UL D ENTER THE CASTL E

Previously any woman couldn´t enter Karlštejn

This myth goes into present times and some people still believe that it was true.

But it is not historically correct. This confusion was made by Václav Hájek

He wrote in his chronicle that women slept in Castle Karlík

The truth is written in the founding scroll of the canonry

THE BLIND MUSICIAN

Story is about a blind musician and his loyal dog.

He played the lute everywhere in the castle

The servant tried to poison the nobleman

A dog jumped on the table, drank the wine and died

The dog saved musician´s life

Next week musician died because of the grief for his dog

THE CZECH HANT

In the 16th century Kateřina Bechyňová lived in Karlštejn

She murdered fourteen people

A servant who did not fulfil her wish was thrown into a dungeon

Václav Hájek denounced Kateřina to the court

Ghosts of the dead maids haunt in the castle up to the present day

A NIGHT AT KARLŠTEJN

A Night at Karlštejn is a musical film, based on a play by Jaroslav Vrchlický

This 83 - minute long

Film was directed by Zdeněk Podskalský and filmed in Karlštejn in 1973.

STORYLINE

Charles IV, the Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor, has built Karlštejn castle to house the crown jewels

His young wife misses him, and in spite of the prohibition, resolves to sneak in for a night

Both women dress up as pages

Things get complicated when a foreign dignitary comes to discuss politics, the queen is the page guarding Charles' bedroom

CAST

All the actors are excellent (especially Vlastimil Brodský, Jana Brejchová, Karel Höger)

 Vlastimil Brodský

 Emperor Karel IV

Jana Brejchová Empress Elise of Pomerania

Karel HögerArchbishop Arnost of Pardubice

Jaroslav Marvan Burgrave

Milos Kopecký Duke Stepan of Bavaria

Waldemar Matuska Cyprian prince

Slávka Budínová Madame Ofka

Daniela Kolárová Burgrave's niece

Jaromír Hanzlík Emperor's page

Karel Hála Varlet

HOW TO GET TO THE CASTLE

The castle is situated in a village of the same name above the River Berounka about 30 kilometres away from Prague.

On foot:Very good trip is to go there on foot. The best way is to take a bus 313 from Radotín to Roblín and from there go on foot through Mořina to Karlštejn.

BY A CAR

I think that the best and easily way to get to Karlštejn is go by car using the motorway D5 in the direction to Plzeň ( Loděnice) and then by direction signs across the village of Bubovice and Hlásná Třebáň to Karlštejn.

Another possibility is a way across Praha – Radotín, Dobřichovice, Řevnice, Hlásná Třebáň to Karlštejn.

The only possibility where you can park your car is the Central Car Park in the village and then you have to go on foot to the castle. It takes about 20 minutes.

BY TRAIN

From Prague you can take a train (heading to Beroun) from the main station or the Smíchov station

The train leaves every 30 minutes. The journey takes about 40 minutes

In front of the hall station turn right and walk across a bridge over the river Berounka, then turn right again and after 50 metres turn left

TOURIST INFORMATION

You have a possibility to buy a ticket online by the internet

Rules for tourists:It is not allowed to touch any exhibits, take photos and make video recording inside the castle

SERVICES FOR VISITORS

After the sightseeing, the visitors can visit souvenir shops.

You can buy coin minting performed on the grounds of the castle

There is a parking area approximately 2 kilometres from the castle

CONCLUSION

Why did I choose the theme of Karlštejn?I like history and Karlštejn is a very important part of the Czech history

Why did I choose the topic in English?There were several aspects why I choose this topic

The first The second

THIS CASTLE IS FASCINATING, LOCATED IN A

NATURE PROTECTED AREA AND IT IS

WORTH SEEING AND VISITING.

RESOURCES

http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl%C5%A1tejn

http://www.hradkarlstejn.cz/

http://www.mestys-karlstejn.cz/

http://www.hrad-karlstejn.com/hradni-povesti.php