Whenever I have an extra day or two while on a layover, I try to get out of town and explore another city. On my recent visit to Prague, my second day was reserved for venturing out to the village of Karlstejn, home of the Karlstejn Castle for which it was named.
Easy to visit on a day trip, it can be reached from Prague by train. Departures are from the main station, Hlavní nádraží or Smíchov stations, usually about every 30 minutes in the direction of Beroun.
Starting out from the main station, we headed out on a 9:19 a.m. departure and arrived in Karlstejn at 10:00. The walk to Karlstejn wasn’t very long or difficult…take a right out of the train station and cross the river…about 2km. The castle was not visible until we reached the village and the village seemed that it was just starting to wake as we ambled through. Make sure you have your camera ready for your stroll thru the village…a very charming place; there are lots of dainty buildings, antique shops, restaurants and souvenir shops. During your walk thru the village, you will be rewarded with your first glimpse of the Castle and it is breathtaking!
After a short hike up the hill, we reached the Castle.
You may enter the castle walls for free, but in order to enter the castle itself, you must pay the entrance fee of 220kc and take an organized tour. Tours are offered in many languages throughout the day.
Once inside, you accompany a tour guide and enter many rooms. Our tour guide’s accent was a little strong and a little hard to understand at times but we were able to follow her for the most part. One thing that struck us as a little funny was that before entering each room, she would whip out a large ring of keys from her coat pocket, unlock the door and then relock it behind us after entering each room. My guess is that they were making sure that guests did not move ahead or linger and get mixed in with another group. (Groups departed 10 minutes apart).
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After the tour, you are free to wander within the walls of the castle. You can visit the Clock Tower and the Well Tower, walk along the castle parapets and enjoy the incredible view.
Once you leave the castle, stop at one of the many restaurants for a delectable lunch, quench your thirst with a mouthwatering Czech beer, and then shop for souvenirs before heading back to the train station.
Get more information about Karlstejn Castle at http://www.hradkarlstejn.cz/en/
Check out more pictures on the Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.