Bohemia was formerly a kingdom of northeastern Austria-Hungary. Now it is a province of Czechoslovakia (chk´-sl-vk´-å). This new country as you know is a result of the Great War. It lies north of Austria and Hungary, south of Germany, and west of Poland. It contains nearly a fourth of the old Austria-Hungary. Its people are Czechs (chks) and Slavs, or Slovaks, hence the name. They are mostly farmers, well educated, and deeply religious. Their new capital is Prague, a famous university city. Even more famous than Prague is the place that lies before you. Carlstein Castle was built on these limestone cliffs by Emperor Charles IV in the fourteenth century. Here the Bohemian kings dwelt in their medieval pomp and power. Here were kept their regalia and their wealth. The tall donjon tower which you see overtopping the building, is 121 feet high and has walls 15 feet thick. History tells us that twenty trusted men guarded each of the two gates of the castle, day and night. Truly it would have been difficult to capture this fortress without heavy siege guns. Today the castle still contains many valuable works of art, although most of these have been taken to Vienna. Some of the earliest painting done in oil adorns its walls. The floors and walls of certain of the rooms are inlaid with precious stones. Beneath the castle are its dungeons where prisoners were kept. There, too, is the torture chamber. What stories these old walls might tell! Pomp and glory and beauty on the one hand; endless suffering on the other. Such were the times when knighthood was in flower. Keystone ID: 15668 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.