The legends of our castles

Karlštejn

There is Karlštejn.

Map

Chapel of the Holy Cross

Karlštejn in the past

Karlštejn in winter

Kdysi na Karlštejn nemohly ženy – to se traduje dodnes a nejeden laik je sto tomu uvěřit. Však ho v tom utvrzuje i Vrchlického veselohra Noc na Karlštejně.Není to pravda, na Karlštejn měly ženy přístup stejně jako na kterýkoli jiný hrad. Zmatek v tom udělal už v 16. století Václav Hájek z Libočan, který ve své kronice zmínil hrad Karlík.Ten stál nedaleko odsuda podle Hájka měl sloužit jako noclehárna pro dámy,které přes den navštěvovaly své druhy na Karlštejně.

legendCzech

Once upon a time no woman could enter Karlštejn. They have a comedy play on their side. In “Night over Karlštejn” by Jaroslav Vrchlický no woman could really enter the castle. Women had the same right as men to enter this castle as well as any other. This confusion was made by Václav Hájek z Libočan. In his chronicle a castle named Karlík is mentioned. It used to stand not far from Karlštejn and serve as dormitory for women who visited their men on Karlštejn during the daytime. The truth may be found if we look at the founding scroll of the canonry. The document reads: “With this scroll we forever prohibit ourselves to sleep or lay with a woman in any tower of Karlštejn which would be dedicated to hold a foreseen chapel”. Women roomed freely around the castle. The only place prohibited to them was one floor of the Great tower. This floor was the seat of the defenders of the precious treasure.

Legend English

Bětka and Naty –Czech Republic

Charles IV.