Český Krumlov

One of my most favourite places I've been to was a beautiful little town in the Czech Republic.

Our day in Český Krumlov felt like we were stepping onto the pages of a fairytale. It was a picture-perfect town complete with cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, a winding river, and a castle on a hill.

After arriving in the port of Linz, Austria, (while on our river cruise) we boarded buses  and within  about 20 minutes we crossed the border into the Czech Republic. We travelled a little farther until we reached a magical little town on a bend of the  Vltava River - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our knowledgeable guide began the tour by taking us up into the Castle that dates back to the 13th century and was originally built by the Rosenberg family.

 The Rosenbergs, a prominent Bohemian noble family, settled in the region and played a prominent role in both the castle and the region from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Its coat of arms included a rose with five petals, one for each branch of the family. 

Over the centuries, the castle evolved into a magnificent complex, reflecting Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles. 

The castle contains 5 courtyards, forty buildings and palaces, a moat (with bears), gardens, and a tower that overlooks the town below.

The Cloak Bridge dates back to the 15th century.  It was once made from wood, but it has changed over the years. It's final alteration to what we now see was finished in the late 1700s.

Down Into the Town

After exploring the castle we made our way down into the town.

 It was filled with charming restaurants, lovely shops, art galleries, hotels, a church, and a vibrant town square. The Church - St, Vitus Church - can be seen easily from the castle as it sits on a hill in the center of the town. 

Like many other Medieval cities, Český Krumlov is a bit of a maze with a criss-cross network of  cobbled streets going off in all directions. It's easy to get lost and turned around, but that adds to the charm.

We loved exploring this enchanting town. We knew nothing about Český Krumlov before leaving home, but we are so glad that it was on the itinerary. It's the kind of place that has stayed with us. 

Of course, eventually it was time to go. The bus was waiting for us, and as much as we would’ve liked to stay longer, our little fairytale day had to come to an end. Back to reality.