A Night at Karlštejn – Myths and Facts about One of the Most Famous Czech Castles

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 :TheBurgraveHouse :The Imperial Palace :The Marian Tower :The Big Tower

TheWell Tower • Although the well is 81 metres deep • An underground channel brings water from a nearby stream

TheBurgrave 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.

TheImperialPalace • 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

FablesabouttheCastle • The history of Karlstejn contains many myths and incredible stories • One of the famous characters in the history of the castle was VáclavHájek z Libočan, well known for his Czech Chronicle

No WomanCould Enter TheCastle • 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 VáclavHájek • 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 KateřinaBechyňová lived in Karlštejn • She murdered fourteen people • A servantwho did not fulfil her wish was thrown into a dungeon • VáclavHájek denounced Kateřina to the court • Ghosts of the dead maids haunt in the castle up to the present day

A night atkarlštejn • A Night at Karlštejn is a musical film, based on a play by Jaroslav Vrchlický • This 83 - minute long • Filmwas directed by ZdeněkPodskalský 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 VlastimilBrodský, Jana Brejchová, KarelHöger)

How to get to thecastle • 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 HlásnáTřebáň to Karlštejn.

Another possibility is a way across Praha – Radotín, Dobřichovice, Řevnice, HlásnáTřebáň 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 Smíchovstation • 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

Touristinformation • 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

Servicesforvisitors • 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

A Night at Karlštejn – Myths and Facts about One of the Most Famous Czech Castles