Krivoklat Castle

Krivoklat Castle - Hrad Křivoklát,  Krivoklat, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic.

Its origins date back to the 12th century.
During the reign of Přemysl Otakar II, an extensive and magnificent royal castle was built; Charles IV stayed there during his childhood and repeatedly in his adult years. The castle underwent significant reconstruction under Wenceslaus IV and was later grandly expanded by Vladislaus Jagiellon.
Křivoklát suffered severe fire damage on several occasions. During the Hussite Wars, the coronation jewels were kept there. It later became a notorious prison, and its importance declined sharply. The Romantic movement of the 19th century—and especially the Fürstenberg family, who owned the castle until 1929—led to its preservation through restoration. That year, the last owner, Max Egon II, sold the castle and its estate to the Czechoslovak Republic.
A magnificent castle chapel; the Great and Small Knight's Halls featuring themes related to the House of Habsburg and sections dedicated to Philippine Welser; a library containing some 52,000 volumes; the rich Fürstenberg museum and picture gallery; a notorious prison and torture chambers complete with instruments of torture; a monumental Great Tower housing hunting collections and offering views of the surrounding area; a pleasant walk along the ramparts; the Huderka Tower with its "black kitchen" and observation gallery; the Captain's House hosting occasional exhibitions—all this and much more defines Křivoklát Castle, a national cultural monument.