Kal Korff

The Hidden Country Castle: Karltejn

by Kal K. Korff
Internationally Syndicated Copyright 2012 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Czech Republic is home to the largest castle in Europe which still serves as the official seat of government. Located on top of the hills which dominate and overlook its capital city of Prague, the country has countless other castles which are a favourite for tourists and history buffs alike. One such place is Karltejn (pronounced Karlshtehn). Karltejn is the summer residence of the former royal rulers of what was once called Bohemia. Construction of the castle began in 1348 and continued steadily over several decades. To visit Karltejn, you can either drive by car or take about a 45 minute train ride from the main train station in downtown Prague. If you go by car, you might get lost. The castle itself is very well hidden in between the twists and turns and peaks and valleys of the hilly surroundings. This was done deliberately to make it more difficult for invading armies to find it. If you arrive by train, which is recommended, you will have to walk or take a horse drawn carriage across the river and stroll through a few of the bends which snake around the large valley. The area is best explored on foot, since the surrounding nature is beautiful, especially during the spring and summer months. As you head towards the higher elevations and turn left along side the main road, the castle suddenly appears. Karltejn is an architectural wonder. To reach it, once you are on the main road, you will have to walk the windy path all the way to the top of the hill. Upon entering its large gate, you see a typical stone laded courtyard. Since the castle sits on top of of one of

the highest hills in the area, the views from its guard towers are breathtaking. You owe it to yourself to climb up all the towers to appreciate the visual spectacle. The castle has three main areas: the centre region where the soldiers, horses and administrative offices existed; the Big Tower or Chapel of the Holy Cross, and the Well Tower. The Big Tower was where the emperor ruled from. The chamber where his throne still sits is covered in gold and gold coloured paint. There are countless stones and precious jewels, the room is extensively adorned with 129 paintings of Catholic religious saints and historical figures who were prayed to and counted on to give divine protection to the region and the royal family members. When walking in this room and some of the others, you are required to put on protective foot coverings to minimise the damage your shoes can cause. Also no photography is allowed inside the castle. To acquire images of its rich, inside splendour, you must purchase photos or slides from the souvenir shops. Other rooms in the castle contain weapons, medieval catapults, and, of course, the small religious chapel that the royal family members used. The walls in these areas are some 4-6 meters thick. The Well Tower is exactly what its name implies. This is where castle members drew their water from. Peering down into the round, stone well, it is some 70 metres deep and seems to go on forever. It is an engineering marvel sculpted into the earth. Near the guard towers overlooking the valley are the usual, expected torture chambers. All castles, especially during the middle ages, had them, Karltejn is no exception. Tours in the castle run throughout the day, while you are free to roam around at will on the outside grounds, when entering Karltejns interior you must be accompanied by a guide. The admission price is inexpensive and the food is moderately priced. For the best cuisine, there is far more variety outside the castle than inside it. In the numerous shops which adorn the area, there are countless mementos one can buy, clothing, copies of medieval weaponry, as well as the usual Czech staple foods: beer, cheeses, meats, fine breads, varieties of ice cream and, of course, dumplings and goulash. Seeing and taking in Karltejn and its surrounding areas requires a full days effort. If you do not leave early in the morning to start your journey, you wont be able to experience it all.

Copyright 2012 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this content may be reproduced in any form nor by any means without the express, written consent of Kal Korff. Fair use, does NOT apply. By reading this document, you willingly agree to be legally bound by its terms and conditions. Violators of this policy will have a felony DMCA Copyright infringement notice filed against them with law enforcement. First time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. This is a DMCA protected document, illegal copying and/or reproduction of its contents are tracked on the Internet and reported to law enforcement for felony prosecution.

1.0v1 February 19, 2012 Kal K. Korff is an officially accredited internationally known author, columnist and investigative journalist.

Copyright 2012 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this content may be reproduced in any form nor by any means without the express, written consent of Kal Korff. Fair use, does NOT apply. By reading this document, you willingly agree to be legally bound by its terms and conditions. Violators of this policy will have a felony DMCA Copyright infringement notice filed against them with law enforcement. First time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. This is a DMCA protected document, illegal copying and/or reproduction of its contents are tracked on the Internet and reported to law enforcement for felony prosecution.