Blogs from Karlstejn, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic, Europe

At the weekend I went walking In the Footsteps of Charles IV. Yes, the Charles IV of Holy Roman Emperor fame, Charlie-Boy. C-Bomb Number 4. No? Basically, I was apparently walking in the footsteps of a 14thcentury Czech king. In the Footsteps of Charles IV is an organised public walk outside of Prague to Karlstejn that’s put on every year for anyone who wants to do it. The full route is 50 kilometres but it’s possible to do 10, 15, 20 kilometres or whatever you can be bothered to do. As a group of occasional walkers and hardcore gulash eaters, we did 15 kilometres. By some miracle of human perseverance I pulled myself out of my comfortable, under-used bed at 8am and with my flatmate met a gaggle of similarly hungover looking people at ... read more

Short entry to inform all my Czech friends who wax lyrical about Karlštejn that I have ticked it off my list. Me and my flatmate Anne-Sophie did a day trip today, did the tour, ate ice cream, went for a short wander and came back. It was a nice day, but there's really nothing more to write about.... read more

Karlstejn castle—they say this castle looks like it is from Disneyland, and it does. Turrets and walls and ramparts, high above a village. We had to walk up to the castle first thing in the morning and it was very interesting a beautiful. Bought a picture from an art gallery and proprietor clicked his heels and bowed at us—the Czech manners make you feel very ladylike. We then rushed back to Prague, and did some more sightseeing and finally went to the concert in the golden church. We went to see the Hussite chapel—they were very early Protestants even before Luther and helped to mould the Czech Republic into one people. Caused lots of bloodshed though—the protestants seemed very keen on chucking people out of high windows—there is a name for this—defenestration - and it has ... read more

A few old photos from my last trip to Czech Republic.... read more

A fourty minute train ride from Prague is Castle Karlstejn. The lonely planet guide mentioned fairy tale, and it lived up to the description. Perching on the top of a hill, looming over a village, with flags rustling in the wind. I've never seen a castle as picturesque, though Warwick Castle England was very impressive. The castle was built in the 14th century, and was home to Charles IV, and his 4 wives. For 200Kc (£4) a tour takes you around most of the castle, unfortunately for us, the Chapel of the Holy Rood is closed to visitors except in July - September. The guided tour around the inhabited part was impressive enough. So things I remember: Being a princess/queen was not all it that it is cut out to be. Lots of child bearing and ... read more