Today I went to Křivoklát Castle to a special Advent Festival. Křivoklát Castle is located about an hour south of Prague by Train, near Beroun, set off in the valley of the Berounka river. A special steam locomotive was part of this special celebration as well. The Blue Albatross Steam Train pulled 11 old passenger cars which were packed full with families. It took about two hours to get there.
It was a cold day at 0 C, a gray as well, but cleared up a bit in the late afternoon. It was a really nice time. Plenty of Food, hot spiced wine, Hot honey wine, Hot chocolate, sweets, crafts, music, and snow.
The day ended by a nice soft fluffy snow fall as the train departed, and along the route, the housetops and fields were covered with a dusting of new fallen snow as the sun set. It was a fitting way to end this Holi-day.
Křivoklát is one of the oldest royal castles in Bohemia. It was built as a power centre and rural residency of the royal family, probably around 1230. King Vaclav IV became fond of this ancient hunting castle. It had an extensive Late Gothic makeover in the years 1473–1526 by King Vladislav II. But was seriously damaged by fire several times. It was also a feared prison and with this, its importance sank rapidly.
