Karlštejn Castle

#mytraveldiary The Chapel of the Holy Cross: A Hidden Gem of Medieval Art While the external view of the castle is magnificent, the true historical and artistic heart is the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower. This is a must-see for art lovers, though it requires the more exclusive and limited Tour 2 ticket. The chapel walls are a dazzling spectacle, inlaid with over 2,000 precious and semi-precious stones and housing 129 original panel paintings by Master Theodoric. The vaulted ceiling is covered with gold and glass lenses to mimic a starry night sky. It is an overwhelming, opulent display of medieval wealth and devotion, unlike anything else in Central Europe, and worth the extra effort and cost.