Location

Situated in the former Premysl hunting grounds in west-central Bohemia Křivoklát Castle (Pürglitz) is one of the most significant and pretentious royal castles in the kingdom of Bohemia.

The extensive triangular castle complex is characterised by its complicated constructional development. The most distinctive part is the large circular tower on the east side, built on the highest terrain of the complex. This front tower protects the other castle buildings behind. This type of tower, very probably French influenced, has a particular place in Bohemian castle construction.

The castle chapel is situated on the first floor of the south wing of the triangular upper castle and is richly ornamented in late medieval style. The main hall, the representative centre of the castle, is located on the first floor of the west wing.

The Hall, one of the largest secular rooms of the late Middle Ages, was given its present appearance by a reconstruction in the last quarter of the 15th.Century by Jagiellonen Vladislav II. In the spacious lower castle, directly attached to the upper castle, were to be found two kitchens, a brewery and the domestic quarters of the lord of the manor, as well as those of the captain and administrator.

Two square towers are integrated into the ring wall of the lower castle. The "Huderka Tower" on the north-west corner and the "Prochoditá vĕž Gatetower" on the south side.
The upper and lower castles are enclosed by an outer biley wall  which were reinforced by ramparts and gun towers. Parts of the ring wall and the existing ministerial seat consisting of a palace, domestic tower and two courtyards north-west of the lower castle were integrated after the destructive fire of 1422 into the late medieval rampart fortifications. Medieval construction work on the castle can be defined in four phases. The early gothic phase from the days of the last Premysls (2^nd. and 3^rd. thirds of the 13^th. century), the high gothic phase at the turn of the 14^th. and 15^th.centuries and the late gothic phase at the turn of the 15^th. and 16^th. centuries produced a masterpiece of Bohemian castle architecture.

However the original castle concept has been fundamentally reformed by subsequent reconstructions as well as several demolitions in modern times. Although the castle has been in then centre of Bohemian castle research a reconstruction of the ´13^th. century castle was a very difficult task on account of the massive constructional alterations.
 

Only long term and extensive archeological, building constructional and historical research revealed important and continuative information about the castle. Complex archeological and historical research relevant to the construction was carried out between 1973 1st 2003 and were accompanied by building conservation activities. In the course of this research work more than 200 archeologically and geological sondages were created (some of which covered an extensive area). The walls were examined either manually or photogrammetrically and regular detailed research on the building was carried out As a result of this systematic inspection very many and profound new findings enabled finally a reconstruction of the castle as it was in the 13^th. century.
 

	Floor plan of the archeologically researched areas
Archeological survery of the 70`s

As a result this consists of a large, triangular castle complex of approx 1 hectare, composed of seven parts including three towers, two central palace buildings with arcaded courtyards and numerous other buildings of superior quality. Seen in a castle typological context one is confronted in this building phase with a castle with buildings forming enclosing wall – the preferred type of building for royal castles in the kingdom of Bohemia in the 13^th. century.