An imposing 14th-century Gothic castle built by the Bohemian king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place to safeguard royal treasures and relics. Nestled among the forested hills southwest of Prague, it is one of the most visited castles in the Czech Republic. Well worth a visit for the Chapel of the Holy Cross, its walls covered with painted panels and semi-precious stones. An easy train trip (line S7) from Praha hlavní nádraží to Karlštejn station in 40 minutes, plus a 20-minute uphill walk to the castle.
