Trixie Navarre

If you make it to Prague then you need to make your way to Cesky Krumlov, which is about 2.45 hours by train. I found this South Bohemian town to be enchanting and charming. It was also less crowded than Prague, which is the main city that everyone travels to when visiting Czech Republic. There are many other beautiful towns beyond Praha, so please go out and explore them!

The historic centre and castle of Cesky Krumlov was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It is perfectly situated along the Vltava River, and was constructed around its 13th century castle; that has three of the most beautiful architectural styles- Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Cesky Krumlov is an extraordinary example of a small European medieval town with a great architectural heritage, which has been beautifully preserved over time.

A prominent amount of the old town’s architecture and the castle date back to the 14th – 17th centuries, revolving around the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.

My traveling companion and I decided to split, and do our own wanderings while in Cesky Krumlov. He wanted to visit the pubs, and I wanted to walk through this historic medieval town and just absorb it all. Even though we both had different experiences, we agreed that Cesky Krumlov was magnificent. My friend even admitted that he enjoyed the sites, and feel of this city better than Prague.

Cesky Krumlov’s historic town center with its colorful buildings, and red slanted roofs were enchanting. When I first saw the town from the castle walk above, I was excited and impatient. I wanted to explore one of Europe’s most recognized medieval towns first hand, and the visions from the top were intoxicating. The overhead views of Cesky Krumlov with the river flowing through it, and the green hills behind were captivating.

Cesky Krumlov Castle – The castle’s complex is one the largest throughout central Europe. It sits on 17 acres having forty buildings and palaces, which are placed around five castle courts and a castle park. The castle dates back to 1240, and sits high on the hill towering over the town.

What I found unique about the castle was the moat that surrounded it. Typically when we think of a moat, we think “water”; but in the case of the Cesky Krumlov castle, the moat had bears. Yes, I said bears! The reason for the bears came by the castle’s earlier rulers who wanted to associate themselves with the influential OrTsini family. Their name was a pun off of “ors”, which is the Italian word for bear.

I did see a bear in the moat and took a photo, but I cannot find it now- sorry. I guess I have to go back to Cesky Krumlov, the sacrifices I make- haha.

Cesky Krumlov is a highly visited town in Czech Republic, especially for those who want to travel beyond Prague. The majority of people associate Czech Republic only with Prague, but this country offers so much more. Getting out of the capital to visit Cesky Krumlov, along with other cities was a highlight of my trip. If you get the chance to visit Prague, give yourself a chance to visit this beautiful Bohemian city- Cesky Krumolv!

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