Charles IV Karlstejn Paintings Back to Index ![]() (31KB) ![]() (43KB) Karlstejn map |
Karlstejn
The entire castle Karlstejn is one of the most valuable historic monuments of world art. The grandiose ideological concept and magnificent artistic decorations of the castle are inseparable from the donor, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and Bohemian kingt, Charles IV. Charles (baptized Wenceslas) - son of the Bohemian king John of Luxemburg. one of the last mediaeval knights, who never lost touch with the high culture of mediaeval France, and of Elisabeth (Elis'ka) Premyslide, a proud woman and last offspring of a glorius dynasty. for centuries rulers over the lands of the Bohemian crown, inherited from both parents their best qualities. After a somewhat turbulent childhood the gifted youngster, dispatched by his father, was brought up at the court of their reletives, the kings of France...... Karlstejn was most probably founded in 1348 - the only information is a marginal note in the chronicle of Benes Krabice of Weitmile. The story of the solemn founding, supposedly attended not only bu the Emperor but also bu the most outstanding personalities of his court, may be found only in the Bohemian Chronicle by Vaclav Hajek of Libocany (published 1541), a not completely reliable source. It would seem that the Imperial palace was completed already in 1355, as there are records about the sovereign's short stay at the castle...... |