Cesky Krumlov is a small town in Southern Bohemia, about four hours south of Prague. Although it is small, it is stunningly beautiful and it is a joy to wander around its small streets and incredible castle. Make sure you stay the night so that you can see the town with its beautiful soft lighting that is common in the Czech Republic and slightly fewer tourists.
Here is the castle with its stunning tower. Built between the 14th and 19th centuries, it is an impressive place.The main square in Cesky Krumlov. Here all the buildings have been restored and are recognised by UNESCO for their great beauty.In the backstreets you can still find houses that are in serious need of renovation.As you can see, the house next door has scaffolding up and is undergoing a facelift.And next door to that one… A beautifully restored building.Cesky Krumlov is on the Vltava river with most of the town being inside a horseshoe bend. Having wandered the medieval streets of Cesky Krumlov, why not hire a boat and paddle down the Vltava?The view from a ‘window’ in the castle, looking out over the town. It is obligatory to take this photograph under the Helsinki Tourist Accord of 1972.The castle courtyard. How nice to be able to stroll about without cars all around you. It is actually free to stroll through the castle. You only have to pay if you want to go inside.There is a moat around part of the castle and is the home of two brown bears. Rather sad looking beasts, they got a bit of excitement in September 2005 when a man tried to evade capture by the police by climbing into the moat… They removed his body later that day.At night, Cesky Krumlov looks even more beautiful. Soft lighting gives it a very special feel, particularly in winter.The River Vltava, the same river that flows through Prague and Dresden, is beautiful. Wouldn’t it be a delight to travel down it?You can. Hire a kayak and paddle down the Vltava from Cesky Krumlov to Zlata Koruna. It is the most beautiful stretch of the river and is suitable for beginners. In summer the river gets pretty full but the atmosphere between kayakers is very friendly.From Zlata Koruna you can get a lift back to Cesky Krumlov with the boat hire people or alternatively you can hike about 10km up Klet’, a peak 1083m above sea level along an easy footpath.The tower at the top of Klet’, built in 1825, it houses an exhibition about the local area. There’s also a restaurant downstairs. For those people in reasonable condition you can hike back to Krumlov through the forest and then a series of educational nature trails.But before you go back to Krumlov, admire the view from the top of Klet’.Cesky Krumlov station and its stationmistress. At every Czech station you will see a red-capped stationmaster making sure that everything runs smoothly. The ride between Cesky Krumlov and Cesky Budejovice is a delight, particularly in spring with all the flowers in the hedgerows.
