Rakovník District: Křivoklát, Berounka and Railway Museum

Rakovník District combines river landscapes, protected forests, castle history and unusual industrial heritage. The Křivoklát region in the southeastern part of the district is particularly characteristic: the Berounka crosses it from west to east, while extensive forests and historic sights open up entirely different ideas for excursions. If you are looking for accommodation in Rakovník District, you can therefore choose between nature experiences, culture and discoveries at varying paces.

Berounka, forests and protected landscape

The Křivoklát region was declared a protected landscape area in 1978. In earlier times, its deep forests served rulers from Prague as a place for recreation and hunting. Along the Berounka are the Skryjské jezero nature reserve and a fossil museum.

There is also clear guidance for active days: Křivoklátsko and Rakovnicko have numerous cycling and hiking trails. A special discovery awaits near Kounov. From Mutějovice railway station, an educational trail leads to the Kounov stone rows. This combination of a railway station, educational trail and archaeologically evocative landscape makes the excursion an experience in its own right, rather than merely another viewpoint.

Křivoklát Castle and its various tour routes

The origins of Křivoklát Castle date back to the 12th century. The complete castle tour includes the library, picture gallery, Fürstenberg Museum, battlements and the Great Cylindrical Tower. Because of the many stairs, this tour is physically demanding. Anyone wishing to experience the castle complex in a different format can also choose a self-guided tour of the battlements and the Great Cylindrical Tower. When planning a day trip, this difference between a complete visit and an independent tour is particularly important.

Railway history in Lužná u Rakovníka

The Lužná u Rakovníka Railway Museum is located directly next to the railway station; signs point from the station to the museum. It is housed in the former locomotive shed of the Buštěhrad Railway in Lužná–Lišany. The collection comprises more than thirty railway exhibits, including locomotives from various eras of railway operation. On display are steam and diesel locomotives, historic passenger and freight cars, as well as special-purpose cars.

The museum is not limited to the exhibition: a 800 mm-gauge narrow-gauge railway offers rides using operational locomotives and a converted passenger car. The collection is complemented by an H0-scale model railway. In Lužná u Rakovníka, visitors can thus discover both the scale of historic vehicles and the world of technical detail represented by a model railway layout.

Regional impressions and the right search direction

Hops with a fine aroma, grown in Křivoklátsko and Rakovnicko, are also part of the region’s identity. Traditional markets in Křivoklát showcase crafts and products from the Křivoklátsko region. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore first determine the focus of your trip: the castles and museums suggest a culture-oriented search, while the Berounka, protected landscape, hiking trails and cycling trails point toward a stronger focus on nature. This does not imply any specific location, facilities or availability of individual accommodations; rather, the decision depends on the excursions you wish to research during your stay.

Places for further searching

For further orientation within Rakovník District, you can also check the places Kounov, Krivoklat, Krusovice, Luzna U Rakovnika, Rakovník, Řevničov, Jesenice U Rakovníka, Cista U Rakovnika, Chotěšov, Hořesedly, Kolešovice, Krupá, Lišany, Šípy, Milostín, Mšec, Mutějovice, Nové Strašecí, Nový Dům, Oráčov, Pochvalov, Rynholec, Senomaty, Skryje, Slabce, Hřebečníky, Srbeč, Zbečno, Bdín, Děkov, Drahouš, Přerubenice, Hracholusky, Hvozd U Rakovníka, Pavlíkov, Kalivody, Velká Buková, Karlova Ves, Kolešov, Krakov, Krakovec, Kroučová, Krty, Lašovice, Lubná, Malinová, Milý, Nesuchyně, Nezabudice, Panoší Újezd, Příčina, Přílepy, Pšovlky, Pustověty, Račice, Roztoky, Ruda U Nového Strašecí, Řeřichy, Senec, Branov, Svinařov, Městečko, Lhotka-Ostrovec, Svojetín, Sýkořice, Šanov, Třeboc, Třtice, Václavy, Velká Chmelištná, Všesulov, Hořovičky, Janov, Mšecké Žehrovice and Zavidov.

For the higher-level travel overview: Central Bohemia.