Founded in 1348, the construction works were directed by the later Karlštejn burgrave Vitus of Bítov, but there are no records of the builder himself. Some historian speculate that Matthias of Arras may be credited with being the architect, but he had already died by 1352. It is likely that there was not a progressive and cunning architect, but a brilliant civil engineer who dextrously and with a necessary mathematical accuracy solved technically exigent problems that issued from the emperor's ideas and requests. Instead, Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV personally supervised the construction works and interior decoration. A little known fact is that the Emperor hired Palestinian region labour for the remaining work. Construction was finished nearly twenty years later in 1365 when the "heart" of the treasury – the Chapel of the Holy Cross situated in the Great tower – was consecrated. Following the outbreak of the Hussite Wars, the Imperial Regalia were evacuated in 1421 and brought via Hungary to Nuremberg. In 1422, during the siege of the castle, Hussite attackers used biological warfare when Prince Sigismund Korybut used catapults to throw dead (but not plague-infected) bodies and 2000 carriage-loads of dung over the walls, apparently managing to spread infection among the defenders. Later, the Bohemian crown jewels were moved to the castle and were kept there for almost two centuries, with some short breaks. The castle underwent several reconstructions: in late Gothic style after 1480, in Renaissance style in the last quarter of the 16th century. In 1487 the Big tower was damaged by fire and during the 16th century there were several adaptations. During the Thirty Years' War in 1619, the coronation jewels and the archive were brought to Prague, and in 1620 the castle was turned over to Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. After having been conquered in 1648 by Swedes, it fell in disrepair. Finally, a neo-Gothic reconstruction was carried out by Josef Mocker between 1887 and 1899, giving the castle its present look.

Karlštejn (něm. Karlstein), v obrozenecké době nazýván také Karlův Týn, je středověký hrad, nacházející se v katastrálním území Budňany v městysi Karlštejn v okrese Beroun, asi 30 km jihozápadně od Prahy, uprostřed Chráněné krajinné oblasti Český kras. Hrad byl založen okolo roku 1348 jako soukromé reprezentativní sídlo římského císaře a českého krále Karla IV. Teprve až postupem času, po Karlově císařské korunovaci v Římě roku 1355, pozměnil císař účel hradu coby klenotnice pro uschování říšských korunovačních klenotů a souboru svatých ostatků. České korunovační klenoty byly na hrad převezeny až počátkem 20. let 15. století. V současnosti je hrad významnou národní kulturní památkou a jedním z nejnavštěvovanějších hradů v Česku. Každoročně hrad navštíví přes 200 000 turistů. Výzdoba nejcennějšího prostoru kaple sv. Kříže ve Velké věži je ukázkou vyspělého gotického malířství. Hrad je ve vlastnictví České republiky, jeho správu zajišťuje Národní památkový ústav a je veřejnosti přístupný.

car park is in the town below the castle. https://www.hrad-karlstejn.cz/en/plan-your-visit/admission https://www.hrad-karlstejn.cz/en/plan-your-visit/admission https://www.hrad-karlstejn.cz/en/plan-your-visit/admission Free: - Children up to 6 years - ZTP card holders up to 18 years - ZTP/P card holders and ZTP/P guides - AMG, ICOM, ICOMOS card holders - Max 2 teachers of the booked group

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