Český Krumlov

Background

Český Krumlov lies in the South Bohemian Region of Czechia. Here the Vltava loops into a bend: the inner town sits on the peninsula inside it, while the castle and the Latrán quarter spread along the cliff on the opposite bank. The castle complex comprises 40 buildings and palaces around 5 courtyards, second in size in Czechia only to Prague Castle. Look out for the multi-storey Cloak Bridge of 1764, spanning a deep ravine between the castle and the garden; one of the most completely preserved Baroque theatres in the world (1767), with its original auditorium, orchestra pit, stage and machinery; the illusionistic murals of the Masquerade Hall (reportedly painted by J. Lederer in 1748); the castle tower, whose observation gallery is reached by 162 steps; the bear moat at the entrance; and the revolving auditorium in the castle garden, in use since 1959. The town first appears in a deed of 1253, and the first castle was also built in the mid-13th century. From 1302 the castle belonged to the Rosenberg family, who remodelled it in Renaissance style in the 16th century; in 1602 Peter Vok of Rosenberg sold Krumlov to Emperor Rudolf II, after which it passed to the Eggenberg family and then the Schwarzenberg family (from 1717). The castle became state property in 1950, and the whole castle area was declared a national cultural monument in 1989; in 1992 the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the old town, St Vitus Church was built in 1407–1439; the town hall was formed in 1597 by joining three Gothic houses; and the Budějovice Gate, built in 1598–1602, is one of the few surviving remnants of the town fortifications.

Local customs

• Walk the inner town on the river-bend peninsula and the Latrán quarter
• enter the castle from the Latrán side and pass through its courtyards (open all year round)
• climb the castle tower for a panorama of red roofs and the river bend
• join a guided tour of the castle and the Baroque Theatre
• stroll in the castle garden
• go rafting on the Vltava in summer
• visit the Five-Petalled Rose Festival on the summer solstice weekend.

Travel tips

• You can see the town on foot in a day
• allow about two hours for the castle. In winter some venues open to a reduced extent, and some tours inside the castle must be booked in advance — check the castle's official website before you go. Cobbles are slippery in the rain, and the narrow, sloping streets of the old town call for care with suitcases and pushchairs.
• From Prague you can take a long-distance bus or train (check the operator for services)
• within the town you can walk everywhere. After summer rain the river runs faster, so take care when rafting over the weirs. Spring, summer and autumn are best, when gardens, rafting and festivals are in season
• summer is the liveliest and the most crowded
• winter has a Christmas atmosphere, but some venues open to a reduced extent.