Křivoklát Castle

Records mentioning the royal castle Křivoklát were first recorded around 1100 A.D., though today’s building dates from the late 13th century. It was enlarged and fortified at the end of the 14th century. Thanks to all these renovations and continual rebuilding, the castle shows all phases of the Gothic style. Castle is considered unique from an architectonic point of view and similar to the French castle conception. Castle was once the royal hunting lodge of Charles IV. Inside, you can see the vaulted King’s Hall, a Gothic chapel with a finely carved altarpiece, a dungeon once used as a prison and now home to a grim assortment of torture instruments, and the Knights’ Hall a collection of late Gothic paintings and many sculptures.

Křivoklát is situated 40 km to 50 km west of Prague. With 250,000 visitors a year, it is the second most visited castle in the Czech Republic. One of the best things about a trip to Křivoklát is the surrounding countryside, with numerous trails perfect for hiking, biking, and strolls.

Prague to  Křivoklát Transport. Alternative to train. Book cheap door to door private minibus.

Getting to Křivoklát Castle

There is a train from Prague to Beroun every half hour, and this journey takes about 40 minutes. When you arrive in Beroun, you will need to change to the train to Křivoklát. You then have to walk for 10 minutes to reach the castle. Make sure you make a note of when the trains depart back to Beroun when you arrive, though – one goes just before midday, and the others are in the afternoon. You can also book an excursion online.

Admission

It is 240 CZK, but you can save money if you take a Czech tour instead (this costs 190 CZK). If you grab a guidebook, you’ll be fine with this.

Castle is Open

May-September – Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm; April and October – Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm; November-December – Saturday-Sunday, 10am-3pm; January-March – Monday-Saturday, 10am-3pm