Built in the 13th century, this Gothic castle sits atop a forested hill in Central Bohemia. Its massive stone walls, royal chapel and library of 52,000 volumes draw visitors year-round.
Křivoklát, a village in Central Bohemia, invites you to explore its 13th-century castle overlooking thick woodlands and the Berounka River. Step inside Křivoklát Castle to see where Bohemian kings held feasts and prisoners faced harsh conditions. The village center holds the late Gothic Church of Saint Peter, rebuilt in the 1880s with sharp arches and detailed stone carvings. Trails in the Křivoklátsko Landscape Protected Area lead past rock formations and remnants of medieval structures. Located an hour west of Prague, this area provides medieval history, calm river curves, and forests filled with deer, wild boar, and rare birds.
Křivoklát Castle: History and Layout
Křivoklát Castle rises above the village with its circular tower and stone defenses. Start your visit in the Upper Courtyard, where guides describe how Přemysl Otakar II transformed the original 12th-century fortress into a royal home. The Royal Hall, Bohemia’s second-largest Gothic interior, reveals ribbed ceilings and medieval crossbows on display. Below ground, prison cells hold iron chains and a 16th-century torture device used when the castle served as a Habsburg prison. The Chapel of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary contains a carved wooden altar from 1490 and stained glass showing scenes from the Bible.
Tour Options at Křivoklát Castle
Four guided routes let you explore different parts of the castle. The 80-minute Gothic Palace Long Tour includes the Knight’s Hall, the Fürstenberg Library with its 52,000 books, and a gallery of 18th-century religious art. The 100-minute Castle Grand Tour adds walks along the defensive walls and entry to the Great Tower, which explains medieval falconry and boar hunting. If time is limited, the 45-minute Gothic Palace Short Tour focuses on the chapel and prison areas. For independent exploration, the On the Ramparts and Tower route allows access to the walls and tower for views of the Berounka’s winding path through the valley.
The Village Center and Surroundings
Approximately 680 people live in Křivoklát, centered around the Church of Saint Peter. Architect Josef Mocker, who restored Prague’s Charles Bridge, redesigned the church in the 1880s with a tall neo-Gothic spire. Follow the Rakovnický potok stream westward to where it joins the Berounka River, or take the marked trail to a hilltop with clear views of the castle and valley. The name Křivoklát comes from old Czech words meaning “crooked” and “plate,” referencing the uneven land where builders constructed the fortress.
Trails and Natural Features in Křivoklátsko
The Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area covers 628 square kilometers of forests, rivers, and valleys. Walk the Berounka River Trail to see sandstone cliffs and the Skryje Lakes, where fossilized sea creatures lie visible in exposed rock layers. Rent a canoe to paddle gentle sections of the Berounka, stopping at cleared areas along the banks for picnics. Near Skryje village, a modest museum exhibits trilobites found in local shale deposits. From late September to October, beech and oak trees along the hillsides turn shades of gold and red, attracting hikers and photographers.
Day Trips from Křivoklát
Krakovec Castle, 15 kilometers northwest, preserves partial ruins of the Gothic fortress where Jan Hus stayed before his execution in 1415. Lány Chateau, 25 kilometers east, opens its formal gardens to visitors year-round as the Czech president’s summer residence. The Krušovice Royal Brewery, operating since 1583, provides tours explaining traditional Czech brewing methods followed by tastings. Karlštejn Castle, a 40-minute drive southeast, sits high above the Berounka River with 14th-century interiors once used to safeguard royal treasures.
Transportation from Prague to Křivoklát
Driving from Prague takes 50 minutes via the highway west toward Karlovy Vary. Trains require a transfer in Beroun, totaling two hours from Prague’s main station. Buses connect Prague’s Hradčanská station to Rakovník, with local buses continuing to Křivoklát. Park in the lot below the castle and walk across the stone bridge to reach the entrance. Seasonal steam trains run between Prague and Křivoklát on certain weekends, detailed on the castle’s official website.
Visiting Information and Recommendations
Křivoklát Castle remains open daily, with extended hours from April through October. Wear shoes with grip for slippery cobblestones and narrow spiral staircases. The castle café sells garlic soup, roast pork sandwiches, and apple strudel for midday meals. Stay in Beroun at hotels like Hotel Litava for easier access to multiple castles. Annual events include the Křivořezání festival in August, with live metalworking displays and lute performances in the castle grounds. Buy tickets online in July and August to skip entry lines.
