Surely there cannot be a single castle in the Czech Republic that doesn’t have several legends attached to it. Karlštejn, therefore, is no exception and visitors to Czech Castles and Mansion Houses will certainly be delighted to find that Karlštejn also has its White Lady, which happens to be the most popular and most common Czech “apparition”.
For many years the Great Tower at Karlštejn housed the Roman and Czech crown jewels. Access to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, over which “all the forces of heaven” stood watch day and night, was only granted with the approval of Parliament. It isn’t surprising that common people saw in Karlštejn a legendary “Secret Chamber” and thought up countless fables relating to it.
The Castle Bells
When Emperor Charles IV died in Prague on 29th November 1378 it is said that the bells of the Church of the Virgin Mary at Karlštejn rang by themselves, calling Charles has gone, Charles has gone!
.
Feminist mistake at Karlštejn
There was a time when no women were allowed in Karlštejn – this rumour goes around to this day and quite a lot of people are prepared to believe it. Indeed, it was confirmed in Vrchlický’s comedy Noc na Karlštejně (Night in Karlštejn). It is not true, however. Women were allowed into Karlštejn the same as any other castle. The confusion arose in the 16th Century when Václav Hájek of Libočany made reference in his chronicle to Karlík Castle. This stood nearby and, according to Hájek, served as accommodation for ladies paying daytime visits to their husbands in Karlštejn. The truth can be found by studying the castle charter, where it states: This document permanently forbids anyone to sleep with, or lie with a woman in the tower of the castle of
Karlštejn, in which the chapel is to stand. Women could move freely around the castle, they were only denied access to one floor of the Great Tower where the guards of the valuable treasure were stationed.
The Murderess of Karlštejn
The most horrible story of all is actually based on true events. In the 16th Century Kateřina Bechyňová, the wife of the Burgrave, resided in the castle. She was responsible for the heinous murder of fourteen people. This sadistic lady abused young servants and pageboys. Even animals were subjected to her rage. A maid who failed to carry out her orders immediately was thrown into the dungeons to starve to death. When a cat tore a lace skirt with its claws she had the animal skinned alive. The Prague Chamber Court was eventually informed of her activities by Václav Hájek of Libočany, who was then the Dean of Karlštejn. Kateřina Bechyňová was sentenced to death by starvation, whereupon her husband had Václav Hájek thrown out of the castle. Hájek was taken from Karlštejn to Prague tied under a horse like a common criminal,
wrote Václav Halaš, at that time Knight of Čáslav. Two days after the death of Kateřina Bechyňová the chairman of the Chamber Court died suddenly – could this have been the last victim of the Murderess of Karlštejn? The ghosts of murdered maids are said to haunt the castle to this day as White Ladies.
The blind musician
One of the most famous legends of Karlštejn tells of a blind musician who, guided by a faithful dog, used to play the lute in the castle. At that time the Prince of Brunšvick was visiting the castle along with a disloyal valet who tried to poison his master at a banquet. He gave the Prince a goblet of poisoned wine. The Prince, however, passed the wine to the singer, quite without suspicion, telling him to have a drink as he had been singing all day. When the poor musician raised the goblet to his lips the dog jumped onto his lap and drank up the wine and, of course, collapsed. The blind man stroked his beloved partner for the last time and said, My Lord, the wine was poisoned and was meant to take your life
. Whatever punishment befell the treacherous servant the musician did not live to see. A few days later he died of grief over the loss of his dog.
Source: Hrady a zámky (Castles and Mansions),praha.eu
Contact