The Karlštejn Castle has reopened after extensive renovations, and new exhibitions have been created

Karlštejn - Karlštejn Castle in the Beroun region was ceremoniously opened today after extensive reconstruction. Workers restored the basement of the Imperial Palace and the Gothic cellars of the burgrave, new exhibitions were added, and a modern visitor center was established. The construction project, costing 164 million crowns, began in 2020, and the heritage site remained accessible during the renovations. However, the restoration of the castle does not end today; in the future, the roofs need to be repaired, the courtyard paved, and the sacred spaces restored, said Naďa Goryczková, director of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), to reporters.

According to Goryczková, the main motivation was to build a modern covered visitor center, which the castle had previously lacked. It was developed from the former ceremonial hall and representative spaces of the castle, along with a souvenir shop and refreshment area that will fully open to the public on Tuesday.

The reconstruction, which was co-financed by the EU, ultimately turned out to be more expensive than expected. According to the original plans, the costs were supposed to be around 80 million Kč. Complications arose from the rising costs of construction labor and materials. The craftsmen also faced problems that they could not foresee because the construction history of the castle is not thoroughly mapped. However, they uncovered a number of valuable historical structures as a result.

For instance, a sloped ramp was planned to lead to the visitor center to make it accessible. However, it conflicted with the Gothic masonry, which led to significant changes in the project. Therefore, people with disabilities do not have ideal access to the center, as there are several steps separating them from it. "Unfortunately, not all monuments can be made accessible to the public, and it is always a dilemma what to prioritize," noted the head of NPÚ.

According to castle steward Lukáš Kunst, care was taken during the reconstruction to ensure that any visitor elements always adapted to the monument, rather than the monument adapting to visitor operations. Therefore, every detail was carefully consulted with experts. The steward is particularly pleased that historical parts that had long been neglected or repurposed have been repaired.

In the basement, visitors can now view a new exhibition about the castle's origins and its past restorations, as well as an exhibition on the history of winemaking in Karlštejn. Another exhibition under the courtyard is dedicated to stonemasonry elements. Workers also restored the utility gardens in the rampart and built new sanitary facilities. A multifunctional hall with amenities and a permanent exhibition of carpentry elements were created in the basement of the Imperial Palace. The technical facilities and part of the engineering networks of the castle were also restored.

Minister of Culture Martin Baxa (ODS) stated before the ceremonial ribbon-cutting that Karlštejn is not an ordinary monument, but a place where the earthly sphere has merged with the heavenly sphere. Minister of Finance Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS) praised the long-term work of preservationists and expressed confidence that the funds spent were used wisely. Today’s event at the castle was also attended by Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), who reminded that the post-COVID era has been a challenge for many construction projects. He is therefore glad that the restoration of Karlštejn has been successfully completed.

Goryczková pointed out that work on the restoration of the monument is still not finished. It is necessary to repair the roofs, the courtyard, and restore the sacred spaces. "In the chapel of the Holy Cross, we need to restore the air conditioning to meet current modern standards. We are in contact with the Vatican museums, which have very good experience with climate control solutions in the Sistine Chapel," she added.

The Gothic Karlštejn Castle was founded by Charles IV in 1348. It was built as a place for storing royal treasures, primarily collections of holy relics and imperial coronation jewels. It is one of the most visited monuments in the country.