Český Krumlov | Levné ubytování České Budějovice | Penzion a relax centrum U Rudolfa

Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov is considered one of the most beautiful Czech towns. For its uniquely preserved complex of the medieval city, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and declared a city monument reserve, the second most important in our country after Prague. The local castle of the same name is no less well-known and beautiful.

The town, which is the center of the district of the same name, lies in a picturesque position on the slopes of the valley above the meandering course of the Vltava River at an altitude of 492 m above sea level 25 km south of České Budějovice.

Originally, an early Gothic castle stood on a promontory above the Vltava River on its left bank, founded in the first half of the 13th century on a trade route to Linz in North Austria. A small town called Latrán was established in its suburbs. In the second half of the 13th century, a new town (today the Old Town) was founded on the opposite bank. At the beginning of the 14th century, the estate passed into the possession of the Rožmberks, who made Krumlov the center and administrative center of a large area covering most of southern Bohemia. During their reign, which lasted for 300 years, the city achieved enormous economic, construction and cultural development, which culminated in the second half of the 16th century. At that time, the city acquired its Renaissance character, which has lasted until today. In 1611, Český Krumlov was destroyed during the Passau invasion. Its later development did not bring such a boom, but thanks to a certain stagnation, its medieval character has been preserved to this day.

The most important and most famous monument of Český Krumlov is the castle of the same name, towering high above the bend of the Vltava. It was created by rebuilding the original castle, the Baroque and Rococo appearance was given to it during the last modifications in the years 1744 - 1767.

In the second half of the 14th century, the former Latrán fortified settlement located east of the chateau was further extended by the so-called New Town built on the Vltava embankment. From the original fortifications, which Latrán had in common with the New Town, a north-eastern cylindrical bastion with a pyramidal roof from 1506 has been preserved. It was built in the style of the northern Italian Renaissance and is topped by a pentagonal tower. The most important monument of Latrán is the minority monastery of St. Francis and St. Clare with the common church of the Corpus Christi and the Annunciation.

The Old Town was built on a hill surrounded by the Vltava loop on the right bank of the river. This part, protected on three sides by the river, was accessible only from the east by a narrow neck, which was dammed by a deep moat. The center of the Old Town is a square, from which streets connected by a circular path along the Vltava embankment run in all directions. It is in this part that many burgher houses dating from the Gothic period, but mostly rebuilt in the Renaissance period, have been preserved, and the monumental Gothic church of St. Vitus, a distinctive building of the town.

The Baroque chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows was built in 1709 on Křížový vrch (also Calvary) towering over the town. The newly renovated chapel offers a beautiful view of the city.

Near the central parking lot about 400 m in the direction of Černá v Pošumaví it is possible to visit an underground graphite mine.

On the southern edge of the town (towards Větřní) there is an interesting covered wooden bridge (so-called rechle) over the Vltava.

Český Krumlov - an alley in the Old Town Český Krumlov - a town with the church of St. Vitus Český Krumlov - a church of St. Jošta with the castle tower and part of the connecting corridor

A 3.5 km long route marked with tourist signs passes through the town's monument reserve.

The building of the former Jesuit seminary now houses the District Museum of National History. There are collections reminiscent of the history of the city and its surroundings, Gothic and Renaissance sculptures, as well as a Baroque Jesuit pharmacy.

One of the important personalities who were influenced by life in Český Krumlov is the writer Rudolf Kalčík, who studied at the grammar school there. Actor and playwright Maxmilián Štván spent his last years here.