In this post, I describe some of the highlights that I found as interesting while visiting the township of Cesky Krumlov (Český Krumlov) in the Czech Republic. Situated to the north of the town as a series of buildings, the State Castle, preserving many historical artifacts and being listed as an important UNESCO Heritage Site, was built and modified from the 14th to 19th century. The tower and each of the five courtyards took me through the Gothic and Renaissance history of the castle and the town itself.
View of the State Castle Tower from one of the streets
After the courtyards lie the castle grounds, which was nice to have a stroll during early spring. The garden, built in the 18th century, can be accessed even without a ticket to the castle. There is a fountain at the centre with a large sculpture of Neptune, the sea god.
Garden on the rear side of the State Castle
On the other side of the castle is the Cloak Bridge, which could be assessed from the interior of the castle as well as from the town border. In my previous post, I described the nice view that I enjoyed from the top of the Cloak Bridge. This three-storeyed arched bridge connected the courtyards of the castle. Below the bridge, there are small, winding roads that I took to walk along both sides of the flowing river.
View of the Cloak Bridge
The town square of Cesky Krumlov is a pretty, central square that was easy to access. Even on a cloudy day, there were people chatting inside coffee shops situated close to the square. A mix of Renaissance and Baroque homes set aside winding streets leading to the square was an impressive sight. The town also features a Marian plague column.
Town square of Cesky Krumlov
On the way to the Monastery of the Minorites, which was situated not far from the entrance of the State Castle, I saw artisan shops having a historical importance. The shops are not open at all times during the day, so some planning is required to watch a blacksmith or other artisans at work. There was also interesting architecture in the street of Latrán, where I stopped to admire.
Artisan shops in the streets of Cesky Krumlov
There are always plenty of activities at the monastery, but I wasn't lucky to witness any of them. At the time of Christmas and even later, village fairs are common. This medieval monastery complex was built in mid-14th century and is situated slightly away from the streets of the town. A visit to this place gave me information about the history of the monastery and also the town itself. After the monastery, I went further north towards one of the bridges hosting the Budweis Gate (Budějovická brána), which is the only survivor among the nine entrances to the town.
The Monastery of the Minorites
Shops near the castle gates were entertaining tourists, and I was particularly interested in a candy shop where they sold candies resembling small rocks (that kindled the geologist in me). Nearby was a shop selling gemstones, and I saw a polished greenish glass called Moldavite formed by a meteoritic impact in southern Germany. As it was a rare gem, many tourists were interested in buying a piece.
There was always something to see on the roads of this town. Small coffee shops and vintage restaurants stacked side by side on the cobbled streets, shops selling wooden toys and puppets, occasionally passing over bridges crossing the river, frequent church bells from the main church - all these have made my day. A rare sight was a small library in the form of a telephone booth, from which people could take out books for leisurely reading. In the modern world, everything about this small town felt like going back in time.
Something that haunted me slightly was how a few bears, that were kept for public viewing near the entrance of the castle, were treated. As bears were part of the castle's history, it made sense to have a display, but what revolted me was how malnourished and unhappy the bears looked. This killed my mood for sure, but apart from that, every part of the town gave me good spirits.
Once I saw this small town, I could understand why many of my European friends wanted to visit here. With its medieval feel and European charm, Cesky Krumlov will remain on my list of favorites and will continue to be a dream place for many people to explore and leave them in good spirits, like me 💖
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