Český Krumlov(16 000 inhabitants, southern Czech Republic) is the purest example of a medieval city in Central Europe. Written on the UNESCO list in 1992, he retained340 monumentson an area of 15 hectares. Vltava wraps the old town with meandrem forming a natural defensive circle.
Krumlowski Castle (Krumlovský zámek)
The second largest castle of the Czech Republic (in Prague), 40 buildings, 5 courtyards, gardens. History since 1240, stylistically: goth → Renaissance → baroque → rococo. Owners: Vítkovcy, Rosenberkovie (the greatest flower of the 16th century), Eggenberg, Schwarzenberg.
Tours
- Route I (340 Kč, 55 min):Renaissance chambers, Chapel of St. George, Mascarov Hall (Thrompe-l'œil frescoes 1748)
- Route II (300 Kč, 45 min):Schwarzenberg apartments, 19th century
- Baroque Theatre (450 Kč, 45 min):UNICAT — the only Baroque scene with the preserved original mechanism (turns, collapses, painting background). There's only four shows a year.
- Castle tower (180 Kč):162 degrees, Vltava panorama — the best city photo
Old Town — What to See
Náměstí Svornosti
Main market with Baroque Marian column (1716) and Renaissance Town Hall. In feathers preserved graffiti of the 15th–XVI century.
St. Vitus Church
Gothic 1439, tower 55 m. Inside the network vaults (paraphrase of St. Wit Cathedral in Prague), Rosenberk tombs. Introduction: voluntary grant.
Egon Schiele Museum
Expressionist Egon Schiele lived in Krumlov in 1911. Museum in the Renaissance basement of Latrána — 600 works (drawings, graphics, several originals). Introduction 200 Kč.
Museum of Marionet
A collection of 300 theatre dolls from the 17th–XX century, animations. Introduction 100 Kč.
Vltava — a raft in a rubber boat
Legendary attraction: the rafting of “raft” from Vyššího Brodu to Krumlov (25 km, 5–6 hours) or shorter Rožmberk → Krumlov (12 km, 2.5 hours). Price: 400–700 Kč/person with transport. May–September season. Companies:Ingetour, Vltava, Půjčovna lodí Krumlov.
Festivals
- Festival of Five-Picked Rose(Slavnosti pětilisté rēe) — 3 days in June, the largest Renaissance reconstruction of Europe, the entire old town in costumes 1550.
- International Music Festival(July–August) — concerts in the castle, in gardens, in the church
- Baroque Nights(August–September) — operas at the Baroque Theatre
Where to eat
- Krčma v Šatlavské— Medieval cellar, grilled with open fire, price 250–400 Kč
- Krčma Markéta— next to the castle, terrace over Vltava, traditional dishes
- Papa's Living Restaurant— international cuisine, vegetarian options
Practical information
- Directions:bus from Prague 3 hours (RegioJet, 250 Kč), from Č. Budějovic 45 min (60 Kč)
- Season:May–October. December: Christmas fairs (small but fairy tale)
- Overnight:avoid July–August (municipality). Best time: end of September
- Hotels: Zlatý Anděl(since 2800 Kč),Hotel Rûe(renaissance, from 4500 Kč)
- A weekend is enough:2 full days is comfort