Karlštejn Castle

Středočeský kraj · Czechia · Castle

Around Charles IV's crown-jewel fortress wander the white maidens of legend – victims of the sadistic castellan's wife Kateřina Bechyňová.

Karlštejn, built by Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century to guard the crown jewels, is the most famous castle in the Czech lands – and one of the most legend-laden. In the 1530s it was the domain of castellan Jan Bechyně, whose wife Kateřina Bechyňová was convicted in 1534 of torturing and murdering at least 14 servant girls, and was herself starved to death in a tower at Prague Castle. Her victims are said to appear as white maidens in the castle halls, while another tale has headless knights patrolling the walls at night. The stories give the tightly guarded fortress a dark undertone that guides and visitors still sense.

FAQ

Where is Karlštejn Castle located?

Karlštejn Castle is in Středočeský kraj, Czechia.

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• Vitkov Hill Prague · Natural site
• The Devil's Column (Vysehrad) Prague · Stone formation
• Church of St Peter at Porici Prague · Church

Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons