Cesky Krumlov, a town like a living postcard that offers a completely exciting and spectacular holiday experience. If there is a holiday destination where you want to travel just by looking at the tourist map, then this is the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov in the southwest of the Czech Republic. If you haven’t heard of it before, you are not the first person, because I didn’t know what it was about either until I was looking for a one-day destination on the way to Germany… That doesn’t mean that no one knows and it seems that it is a famous destination especially for Asian tourists, who at the end of it were already filling the streets of the city. Cesky Krumlov is almost unreal at first glance, occupying the high and winding banks of the Vltava River. The core of the old town rises on a small hill surrounded almost on all sides by water and defended by the imposing castle that stretches along a mountain ridge to the north.
A visit to Cesky Krumlov can last a day or a week, in both cases being an experience that is hard to forget and match. The city is located in the southwestern tip of the Czech Republic, close to the border with Germany and Austria. To get there, the recommendation would be to follow the local roads through the charming villages that occupy the hills of northern Austria and southern Bohemia. The destination’s fame comes from its perfectly preserved medieval historic center and its impressive castle, which presents diverse architectural aspects. The lower town developed at the base of the castle as an important trading center in the Middle Ages. Dating back to the 12th century, the castle is surprisingly large for such a small city, also impressing with the amalgam of sections from different eras, each with a different architecture. Built on a rock above the meanders of the river, it houses some very interesting tourist attractions.
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Equally attractive is the historic center, largely crammed onto a small patch of land surrounded by the river. You can start exploring from anywhere, as the destination is compact enough to be explored in a single day, but it would be advisable to allocate at least two days to explore all the narrow streets and visit all the attractions. Cesky Krumlov Castle is considered one of the most beautiful, interesting and largest in central Europe, benefiting from both an impressive location and a rich cultural heritage. Built in stages between the 14th and 19th centuries, the castle is actually a huge complex of buildings and palaces that stretch along a rocky plateau above the meanders of the Vltava River.
You don’t need a ticket to explore its inner courtyards, but you can buy tickets for the various museums and interior spaces that can be visited. Among these, the Castle Theatre stands out, located in the 5th courtyard and containing original theatre scenes and props dating back to the 15th century. Also worth visiting are the castle museum, the tower, the gardens or the stables, among other points of interest. There are two guided tours of the castle, each with a complex route through its various buildings. Even if you don’t participate in these, don’t miss the exceptional panoramas of the city below.
For an unreal immersion in the authentic medieval atmosphere, the small historic center of the town of Cesky Krumlov in southwestern Czech Republic is the perfect destination. With its cobblestone streets climbing to the top of the hill and its narrow houses decorated with fascinating murals, with its craft workshops and small cafes housed in courtyards forgotten by time, this magical place is surrounded on almost all sides by the water of the Vltava River, with only a few bridges connecting it to the rest of the city. The two districts of the old town are located inside two accentuated meanders of the river, with the new town developing on the nearby hills. Among the old two- or three-story buildings, the slender but imposing silhouette of St. Vitus Cathedral stands out easily.
This magnificent monument dating back to the 15th century is notable for its exceptional architecture with Gothic, Neo-Gothic and Baroque elements. You can visit the impressive interior for just a few crowns. Exploring the charming streets, you will surely discover other interesting buildings and attractions, as well as several museums worth visiting, including the Marionette Museum, the Puppet Museum, the Museum of Torture Instruments, the Egon Schiele Art Center and others. In addition to walking around the city and tasting local beer, along with traditional Bohemian dishes, if you spend more time in Cesky Krumlov, you should also try kayaking on the Vltava River, admiring the city’s architecture during an adrenaline-filled adventure…
Accommodation Options in Cesky Krumlov
rating 9.2 from 36 reviews
Located right in the old city center, the guesthouse is housed in a 600-year-old building and is equipped with all the necessary facilities.
rating 8.5 from 350 reviews
The hotel benefits from an exceptional location, right next to the main square in the old town, in a historic building but with a modern design.
rating 9.1 from 423 reviews
Housed in a very old Gothic building, the guesthouse in the city center offers sumptuous rooms with authentic decor.