Eight castles and chateaus within reach of West Bohemia's capital — from Loket's horseshoe gorge to Prague Castle and the Gothic fortresses of Central Bohemia
Plzeň sits at the western edge of Bohemia's castle heartland. Drive northeast from the city and within 75 to 95 kilometres you reach three of the most historically significant Gothic castles in the country, clustered along the forested Berounka valley. Křivoklát, the oldest royal hunting castle in Bohemia, presides over a forested bend in the river and has changed little since the reign of King Wenceslas IV. Further east, the dramatic ruins of Točník — a Gothic fortress begun by Wenceslas IV himself — command sweeping views across Central Bohemia. And at the eastern end of the route lies Karlštejn, built by Emperor Charles IV in 1348 to safeguard the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire, and today the most visited castle in the Czech Republic outside Prague. The three form a natural castle trail that also makes an excellent stop on the road between Plzeň and the capital.
Loket, Karlovy Vary
Perched on a granite island almost entirely encircled by the Ohře River, Loket Castle is one of the oldest royal fortresses in Bohemia — and a James Bond filming location.
Křivoklát, Central Bohemia
One of the oldest Czech royal castles, Křivoklát rises above the Berounka River valley in a pristine forested landscape — a favourite hunting seat of Bohemian kings.
Točník, Central Bohemia
The Gothic ruin of Točník Castle, founded by King Wenceslas IV around 1395, offers spectacular views over Central Bohemia and makes an easy half-day trip from Prague.
Karlštejn, Central Bohemia
Built by Emperor Charles IV in 1348 to safeguard the Bohemian crown jewels, Karlštejn Castle is the most visited Gothic fortress in the Czech Republic.
Prague, Prague
The world's largest ancient castle complex, Prague Castle dominates the city skyline and houses St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and Czech crown jewels.
Benešov, Central Bohemia
The former residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Konopiště Castle near Prague holds one of Europe's finest collections of hunting trophies and medieval weaponry.
Blatce, Central Bohemia
Built over a natural pit believed to be a gateway to hell, Houska Castle is Czech Republic's most legend-shrouded Gothic fortress and one of its most haunted places.
Bezděz, Liberec
The dramatic twin-towered ruin of Bezděz Castle crowns a volcanic hill above northern Bohemia, offering sweeping panoramas and a scenic hike through ancient beech forests.
Křivoklát Castle is approximately 75 km northeast of Plzeň — about 75–80 minutes by car via the D5 motorway and regional roads through the Berounka valley. By train, the journey requires a change at Beroun and takes around 2 hours. Křivoklát is one of the oldest and best-preserved royal castles in Bohemia, set in the protected Křivoklátsko forest landscape.
Křivoklát is the most accessible by rail — take a regional train from Plzeň toward Prague, change at Beroun, and continue to Křivoklát station. Karlštejn is best accessed by train from Prague (40-minute direct service from Praha hlavní nádraží), making it a natural stop when travelling between Plzeň and Prague. Točník has no rail connection and requires a car.
Yes, though it is a longer day. Karlštejn is about 95 km northeast of Plzeň, roughly 90–100 minutes by car. The most practical approach from Plzeň is to drive toward Prague and stop at Karlštejn en route, then continue into the capital. Alternatively, take a train from Plzeň to Prague and then a direct train from Praha hlavní nádraží to Karlštejn — 40 minutes from the capital.
Točník is a ruined Gothic castle founded at the end of the 14th century by King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia, who used it as his preferred royal residence. It sits on a hilltop above the town of Žebrák in Central Bohemia, adjacent to the older ruined Žebrák castle. The two ruins together form an impressive hilltop complex with panoramic views across Central Bohemia. Točník remains one of the more atmospheric Gothic ruins in Bohemia and is far less crowded than Křivoklát or Karlštejn.
Karlštejn is the most famous — it is the most visited castle in the Czech Republic outside Prague, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Emperor Charles IV built it between 1348 and 1365 to hold the crown jewels and holy relics of the Holy Roman Empire. Its Chapel of the Holy Cross, decorated with over 100 Gothic panel paintings by Master Theodoric, is considered one of the finest examples of Central European Gothic art and requires a separate tour booking.
