(Disclaimer: We're currently in North Dakota, USA, but writing a Czech post for a Travel Tuesday linkup.)
Way back in the 13th century, a Bohemian king planted a fetching castle and hamlet in the crook of the Vltava River, near the Austrian border. Eight centuries later, our highly expert travel panel (well, BW and my parents and me) hopped a train and chugged 4 hours south of Prague to spend a couple of nights there.
Art Art Art. There's stellar street art - ancient and contemporary - in this village, as well as art supplies shops and the incredible Egon Schiele Art Centrum. No photos were allowed in the Schiele Centrum, but it's absolutely phenomenal, being housed in a former centuries-old brewery - probably one of the best galleries I've ever been to.
Krumlov Castle. Built in 1240, it was a major cultural and political beacon in Central Europe. It has Europe's oldest working Baroque Theater; a fantastic stories-high linking bridge; enchanting green gardens and a candy-colored tower.
Wandering about town. This was our favorite way to while away the time. Crooked little cobblestone walkways carry you through crystal shops, art galleries, pubs, antique stores, museums, a brewery, parks, cafes, etc.
It's easy to lose yourself in Český Krumlov!
Way back in the 13th century, a Bohemian king planted a fetching castle and hamlet in the crook of the Vltava River, near the Austrian border. Eight centuries later, our highly expert travel panel (well, BW and my parents and me) hopped a train and chugged 4 hours south of Prague to spend a couple of nights there.
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| The Krumlov Castle wears a snazzy little blue-green hat |
Even in a persistent grey drizzle, the town of Český Krumlov is a charmer. But we had only one drizzly day - the kind that coerces you to buy hot drinks in late June.
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| A soggy Ma and Pa |
This place wasn't always so picturesque; an ugly expulsion of German-speaking citizens happened after WWII, as the area had been annexed by the Nazis into Sudetenland. And during Communism, pretty Český Krumlov became shabby and depressed. In 1992, though, it was named a UNESCO site and was polished back to it's current pristine condition.
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| Buildings the same as when Egon Schiele painted their images on canvas |
The whole town is one big breath of special. However, we had a few experiences that increased the special quotient for us.
Food at U Dwau Maryi (At the Two Marys). The building itself is a Medieval goody, and it has two paintings of the Virgin Mary dating back to the 1700s. We sat at a massive wood table and split the the Old Bohemian Feast for four, which was a total treat with smoked meat, millet cake and potato pancakes.
Rafting on the Vltava. We rented a raft for a very reasonable price through Surfsport and bobbed down the river, past all sorts of beautiful things. Loads of Czechs were on the river, too, with bottles of slivovice (plum brandy) dragging on ropes behind them. They all said "Ahoj!" (pronounced ah-hoy) as they passed us, an informal and happy hello.
Wandering about town. This was our favorite way to while away the time. Crooked little cobblestone walkways carry you through crystal shops, art galleries, pubs, antique stores, museums, a brewery, parks, cafes, etc.
It's easy to lose yourself in Český Krumlov!
