Krivoklat Castle Zamek Krivoklat

For a pleasant day trip from Prague that combines Nature and history, try a visit to Krivoklat Castle. Founded in 1109 and set in the pleasant Krivoklatsko Nature Reserve, the castle was originally designed as a hunting lodge for Premyslid kings. Throughout the years the castle has been damaged heavily by fires and at its lowest point, was used as a prison.

The castle has had several owners throughout its history, but the Furstenburg Family were the most important in the castle's history due to the massive reconstruction they undertook which reshaped the castle.

The Furstenburg's spent lavishly on the castle during the Romantic époque of the 19th Century and brought the castle back to its original condition. One of the highlights is the beautiful Gothic Chapel, but not to be missed are the exhibition of gothic paintings and sculptures in the Great Royal and Chivalric Halls.

For those interested in ancient libraries, the library of Krivoklat Castle contains over 52,000 volumes and documents. An eighty minute tour of the castle is available.