DISCONTINUED Betexa 037 Zamek Krivoklat

Krivoklat Castle is a Czech stronghold with its roots in the Middle Ages, located in the Central Bohemian region. Based on sources, it can be stated that already in the first half of the 12th century, a new stone castle was erected on the site of the previously existing wooden castle, which from the very beginning had a significant military significance in the Czech defense system. During the reign of Přemysl Otakar II of the Přemyslid family, the castle was significantly expanded in the middle of the next century. It was then that the castle chapel and the observation tower were built. The castle underwent further expansion in the 15th century, taking its present shape and very often hosting in its walls the then kings of Bohemia - Wenceslaus IV or Władysław Jagiellończyk. Not quite rightly, it can be said that under the latter ruler, it even played the role of the unofficial capital of the state. During the reign of the Habsburg family, who ruled Bohemia from 1526, the significance of the castle changed - it was rebuilt and adapted to serve as a royal prison. In the 19th century, when the owners of the castle were already the Furstenberg family, the castle was thoroughly restored and returned to its medieval appearance. Currently, the Krivoklat castle serves as a museum.