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Built on the southern side of Karlstejn Castle...
THE IMPERIAL PALACE
Similarly
as at the time of Charles IV
the inner part of the castle is formed by the Imperial Palace, the Marian
Tower with the Church of Our Lady and the Great Tower with the Chapel
of the Holy Rood.
The originally three-storeyed building of the Imperial Palace was
built on the southern side of the castle. The ground-floor interiors
served useful purposes, particularly as storerooms, pantries and stables.
On
the ground-floor in the western part there was an open arcade
where the gilded coach in which the imperial coronation jewels were
transported to Prague every year during the reign of Charles IV still
stood in the 16th century. On these occasion the jewels were put on
display.
Rooms serving living purposes began on the first floor of the palace.
When the Emperor was in residence they were used by his courtiers.
The
second floor was used by the Emperor for both living and reception
purposes, while the third floor was at the disposal of the empress and
her entourage. The third floor was built of frame masonry with a wooden
structure and a brick filling.
The main entrance to the Imperial Palace led from the small courtyard
along an outer staircase which terminated with the so-called White Hall.
The other rooms were connected by wooden galleries.
