Křivoklát is one of the famous castles in Central Bohemia. It is the heart of the landscape reserve protected křivoklátsko landscape area. It is located on the cliffs above the river Berounka rivers, a half-hour drive from the town of Beroun.
The impregnable fortress surrounded by forests was both a Royal hunting castle and a prison for failed alchemists. Originally there lived a settlement of small artisans at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries. it was called Budy.
The Royal castle, which has been preserved to this day, emerged as an important defensive point on the way from the borders of the Czech Kingdom to Prague. The rulers used it mainly as a fortified hunting residence. But it also played the role of prison for particularly dangerous criminals. One of the viewing routes of the castle today passes through the torture chambers for prisoners.
Křivoklát Castle is one of the oldest castles of the Czech princes and kings. Its current appearance was given to it by the Fürstenberg princes, who owned the city from the middle of the XVIII century until 1929. The interiors are impressive! The tour route passes through the magnificent chapel, the royal and knight's halls with an exhibition of Gothic paintings and sculptures, the library, the rich Museum and the art gallery of the Fürstenbergs, the famous fortress prison and torture chamber, a large tower with hunting trophies. Usually, the walk includes a visit to exhibitions. Also, the walk allows you to enjoy views from the height of the castle walls and see the black kitchen in the Huderka Tower.
And there are a lot of interesting things in the vicinity of the castle. For example, forest playgrounds with lots of attractions for children, the ruins of the city of Týrov, two small lakes among the forest rocks near the village of Skryje, or a traditional log house of the XVII-XVIII centuries in the village of Zbečno. The bread there is baked in the old village oven.
Each year the Křivoklát Castle ranks among the most visited castles of the Central Bohemia region. It's always in the top five. There are up to 100 thousand visitors a year. Besides, it is one of the few Czech castles that are open to visitors during the winter season.
One of the most mystical prisoners in prison in the XVI century was Edward Kelly. The former court alchemist of Emperor Rudolf II was actively searching for the philosopher's stone. It seemed to the monarch that the subordinate withheld the received recipe! Kelly was trapped in the Huderka Tower, and the only way to get out was to give the Emperor the formula for the philosopher's stone. The alchemist worked hard, but could not please the Emperor, who was dependent on mysticism. Only torture was the alchemist's reward for his failures.
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