Český Krumlov, a pretty little town of about 15,000, is probably the second most popular destination for travelers in the Czech Republic. It lies in the hills of southern Bohemia, the western half of the Czech Republic, on a winding section of the Vltava River.
The old part of town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has beautiful old architecture, including painted buildings that the Czech Republic is famous for, and winding cobblestone streets. Because of the river and the surrounding tree-filled hills, the town is well-known for its natural beauty.
The most striking feature of the town is its large hilltop castle (the second-largest in the country after Prague Castle) with its brightly-painted tower (see picture below). During the reign of the Lords of Rožmberk (Rosenberg) from 1302 to 1602, Český Krumlov became the seat of the kingdom, which is why it has such an impressive castle. One interesting point is that during the Communist era, the town was not well-maintained, but after the Velvet Revolution of 1989, buildings were repainted and the town was slowly restored.
The castle and its tower
The town is popular for kayaking among both tourists and Czechs. When I was there, it seemed like the river was full of people setting off in their kayaks to explore the surrounding countryside. It must be a beautiful way to spend the day.
The Vltava River, kayak-free at this moment
For more information about Český Krumlov, check out this excellent tourist site.
Looks like a lovely town – if I’m fortunate enough to return to Prague, a day-trip to Cesky Krumlov, including kayaking, is right about at the top of my list.
Adam, I think there are lots of places in that country that you would enjoy. The Czechs are really into the outdoors and spend most of their vacation time doing something along those lines– there’s lots of nice scenery, forests, mountains, etc.
Can I ask you for quick advice about the camera? (I responded to your previous suggestion but it was a while ago; you may not have seen it). I’m not sure what to buy. I think the compact ones you mentioned (the Panasonic and Canon dSLRs) would be better for me for traveling.