The Czech lands have one of the highest densities of castles in Europe, and the state took most of them over after 1948, which is why so many still stand furnished. Karlštejn was founded by Charles IV in 1348 to hold the imperial regalia and the Bohemian crown jewels; Český Krumlov, at the other end of this route, is a whole town wrapped in a bend of the Vltava under a castle with a Baroque theatre still in working order. Krumlov’s historic centre is a World Heritage Site; Karlštejn, for all its fame, is not.
What this atlas maps on the Bohemian castle route
They are the 28 best known of the 49 landmarks this atlas maps within 25 km of the line, spanning 9th century to 18th century.
The best known is Prague Castle, ranked 23 of the 8,133 landmarks in the atlas by Wikipedia presence and real readership. The oldest is Prague Castle, founded c. 900.
The route runs through Czech Republic. The same ground, without the itinerary: Castles in Bohemia.
Travelling it
South out of Prague on the D4 or the older roads through the Vltava valley; Karlštejn is under an hour by train from the city and Krumlov under three by road.
Day-trip guides for the towns and cities along it: Prague · Linz.
See the route on the map →
