Chapel of St. Catherine, Gothic castle chapel in Karlštejn, Czech Republic

The Chapel of St. Catherine sits inside the Marian Tower of Karlstein Castle and displays Gothic architecture with stone vaults and medieval artwork on the walls. The interior is relatively small and contains an altar, windows, and painted decorations from different periods.

Construction of the chapel began around 1348 when Emperor Charles IV built Karlstein Castle as a fortress and treasury. It was designed to protect religious relics and objects of great importance to the empire.

The name St. Catherine is a later error: the chapel was dedicated to St. Palmatius in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the current name appears in the castle inventory of 1515 with a portable altar commissioned by dean Jan ze Stradouně. St. Catherine holds only a minor place in the decoration, which centres on Christ's Passion and the relic cross.

Access to the chapel is only possible through guided tours of the castle organized by castle staff. Visitors should check if tours are available on their planned visit date and wear proper shoes for climbing stairs.

The chapel's dedication to St. Catherine is a historical error: in the 14th and 15th centuries it was consecrated to St. Palmatius, and the name Catherine only appears in the castle inventory of 1515, linked to a portable altar commissioned by dean Jan ze Stradouně. The confusion was spread by Václav Hájek z Libočan and backed by Bohuslav Balbín.