On the second day we visited Loket Castle. The small town of the same name is situated on the banks of the River Eger, ten kilometres from Karlovy Vary. The castle was built in the 12th century and later rebuilt several times. Judging by the scaffolding on the main tower, the owners have started work and have no intention of stopping.
While we were there, kayaks and canoes were going down the river every minute. It's a very popular rafting spot that requires no special skills and is suitable for the whole family. There are some rapids, but they are said to be not too difficult.
When we arrived at the castle, we were in for an unpleasant surprise: all the car parks at the entrance to the village were full, even though there were only a few people on the roads. It turned out that we were visiting a local music festival, Kryštof Kemp, held in the amphitheatre at the foot of the castle. The park rangers directed us along a winding road to the visitors' car park by the river, from where we walked up to the castle. The cover photo shows the backstage area of the Festival Theatre to the left of the river. Other photos will follow in chronological order.
A small fleet of kayaks. Looks like the boat on the left is being steered by a mermaid.
Castle walls
View from the other side of the bridge. The festival is thematically linked to the Wild West and the Native Americans. On the lawn to the right, you can see some tipis.
Beer garden sign
Faces in the door
Facades of the city
Interesting triangular bay. And to the right of it, traces of another bricked-up bay.
A chandelier on the wooden ceiling
Gothic domed frame with remnants of painting.
This pattern has been better preserved.
A window and a puddle of light on the floor. The grid of metal rings connected by honeycombs is remarkable.
Toilet. The foul sewage either rolls onto the rocks or onto the heads of the sneaking enemies.
The view from the window above the toilet seat.
A castle within a castle. Is there another one inside the Modell, like in Matryoshka? I would like to believe that it is. Modellers like to place Easter-eggs in their creations. (Here will be a link to a trip to Little Big City Berlin, let me know in the comments in case I forget.
The view of the city through the window.
Wooden roof pattern
The castle has its own dragon.
View from the tower (which is scaffolded)
Symmetry
The city in the window.
The roof and the forest on the mountainside. I love views like this, there's nothing like it in Berlin.
The red roofs of Loket.
A view of Loket from the castle. There are only three streets here.
How to train a dragon
The staircase in the tower
The window to the courtyard
The piano in the castle
The window grille.
View of the bridge through loopholes in the walls. This is where we started our tour of the city and where we took the first photos at the beginning of this post.
The city within a single frame.
Somewhere down in the castle dungeons. Mould on the wall of a cell.
I climbed down and then up an incredibly steep staircase with high steps from the castle dungeon.
The doors. Spring collection 1379 from Karl IV.
This painting has a story. It shows a landscape outside the castle walls, taken a long time ago. When the Middle Ages were abolished, the castle was simply turned into a barracks and then into a prison (or vice versa, it doesn't matter). The painting was painted over many, many times with lime and practically disappeared from history. But modern restorers have not been squeamish and have unearthed this beauty from the grave of history.
And this is Gottstein, the guardian of the castle. Legend has it that if you stroke his beard and throw a coin into his iron chest, you will have good luck for a year. And if you don't give him money and touch the head of his staff behind his back, he will chase you with that staff and shower you with a heap of trouble for the whole year. See how the bump on the staff doesn't shine, unlike his beard?
Pareidolia. It's just a spot on the wall, there's no face here.
Inside the town
A medieval street.
Mountain forest
A wasps' nest in a lamppost.
Land of beer.
One last look at the castle before leaving.
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