CZECH REPUBLIC – Český Krumlov (En)
Český Krumlov is one of the most picturesque medieval towns in Europe in the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It’s bisected by the Vltava River, and dominated by its 13th-century castle. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it has a beautiful old town, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, panoramic views of the old town and the river from the top of its round bell tower.
Where to stay
We stayed in the motorhome parking (48.816002, 14.3092 lat, long) near the old town, a 5-minute walk away. The location is ideal, but it is expensive, the first 40 minutes are free but then each hour is 4 euros! There are no facilities, only bathrooms that open until 6 pm. Other car parks can be used cheaper but further from the centre. We didn’t stay overnight because of how expensive it is, see the price list below.
What to see
The truth is that everything is worth seeing, we started our visit in the old town, exploring its streets on foot and walking along the bank of the Vltava River, which hotels, shops and cute restaurants surround. Walking through the old town you will find many hidden corners, such as the Gothic-style Church of San Vitus, built in the 15th century and where classical music concerts are held, the Kloster Museum, a monastery museum, and the area of Latran, which extends at the foot of the castle and is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Český Krumlov, full of interesting monuments, such as the Budějovická Gate or the medieval bastion.
We visited the Castle built in the 13th century, which integrates Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. You can enter the exterior of the castle and the gardens for free, but to see it inside you have to pay. The first thing you encounter is the bears that live in the moat before entering the castle! From what they told me, they were found wild and since they are protected they put them in the Castle moat, they are a female (the smallest one) and a male (the big one who is peeing, hahaha).
Within the castle complex, the second largest in the country, after Prague Castle, is the revolving theatre, one of the best-preserved theatres in Europe, which has remained intact since the 18th century. The permanent exhibition on Egon Schiele at the Egon Schiele Art Centrum, where I took a photo before they caught me, since you have to pay, and the climb to the tower, where you get incredible views of the medieval city.
Around the castle complex, you will find narrow alleys, old bourgeois houses and numerous typical Czech taverns that line the river in a charming setting.
And we went to Veselí nad Lužnicí on the bank of the Lužnice river, a charming little town that you can see in the next blog!
