Křivoklát Castle is located in
Central Bohemia,
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
.
History
Křivoklát was founded in the 12th century, belonging to the kings of Bohemia. During the reign of
Přemysl Otakar II
Ottokar II ( cs, Přemysl Otakar II.; , in Městec Králové, Bohemia – 26 August 1278, in Dürnkrut, Lower Austria), the Iron and Golden King, was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty who reigned as King of Bohemia from 1253 until his dea ...
a large, monumental royal castle was built, later rebuilt by king
Václav IV and later enlarged by king
Vladislav of Jagellon.
The castle was damaged by fire several times. It was turned into a harsh prison and the building slowly deteriorated. During the 19th century, the family of
Fürstenberg became the owners of the castle and had it reconstructed after a fire in 1826. The Fürstenberg family owned the castle until 1929.
Between the 14th and 15th centuries, the first cottages appeared below the castle and the hamlet became known as Budy. Nearby hamlet Čamrdoves grew up, and during the 17th and 18th centuries they became one village. In 1886 the hamlets Budy, Amalín, Čamrdoves, and Častonice created one single administrative unit, the municipality of
Křivoklát.
Today the castle serves as a museum, tourist destination and place for theatrical exhibitions. Collections of hunting weapons, Gothic paintings and books are stored there.
Gallery
File:Wenceslas Hollar - Bohemian views 11 (cropped).jpg, Křivoklát on an engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar
Wenceslaus Hollar (23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a prolific and accomplished Bohemian graphic artist of the 17th century, who spent much of his life in England. He is known to German speakers as ; and to Czech speakers as . He is particu ...
from the 17th century
File:Antonin Mánes - hrad Křivoklát (1835) obr01 crop.png, Křivoklát on a watercolor by Antonín Mánes
Antonín Mánes (3 November 1784 – 23 July 1843) was a Czech painter and draftsman.
Life
Mánes was born and died in Prague, which was part of the Austrian Empire when he died. He was the son of a miller and was self-taught because his fam ...
from 1835.
File:Krivoklat 1958 01.jpg, Krivoklat around 1958 when its main tower was reconstructed.
File:KrivoklatKaple.jpg, Altar in gothic chapel of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary from the time of King Vladislav II. Jagiellonian
File:Hrad Křivoklát 33.jpg, Lower courtyard
File:Hrad Křivoklát (Křivoklát) (7).jpg, Upper courtyard
File:Křivoklát, hrad z vyhlídky.jpg, Křivoklát Castle from East, 21st century.
Notable prisoners
*
Burkhard von Berlichingen
Burkhard von Berlichingen (c.1550–1623) was an imperial councillor at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. He became court councillor of Württemberg in 1579, chancery councillor in 1586, and in 1588 was sent to the imperial court in Prag ...
*
Edward Kelley
Sir Edward Kelley or Kelly, also known as Edward Talbot (; 1 August 1555 – 1597/8), was an English Renaissance occultist and scryer. He is best known for working with John Dee in his magical investigations. Besides the professed ability to ...
*
Hieronymus Makowsky
Hieronymus Makofsky or Makowsky (c. 1565–1630) was a Bohemian knight and a gentleman of the privy chamber to Emperor Rudolph II. He is thought to have had a homoerotic (although not necessarily sexual) relationship with the emperor.
In 1598 he s ...
External links
Castle websitecs, en
Official Prague Tourism website page about the castle
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krivoklat Castle
Royal residences in the Czech Republic
Rakovník District
Museums in the Central Bohemian Region
Historic house museums in the Czech Republic
National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic
Castles in the Central Bohemian Region
Fürstenberg family residences