Cesky Krumlov - The Old City

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Český Krumlov is famous for its Old Town, with 300 protected medieval buildings, and its castle complex, the second largest in the Czech Republic.

Surrounded by rolling hills and the Vltava River, Český Krumlov's cobblestone streets wind past centuries old townhomes, inns, shops, and cafes. Located in the southwest part of the Czech Republic, this picturesque city is home to about 14,000 residents.

Main square



fun to watch the kayakers on the River Vltava

a spot of lunch at U Bejka in Cesky Krumlov - with views of the Vltava River

Vltava River through the city

Cesky Krumlov - Castle tour UNESCO World Heritage Site

views of the old city from the fortress.  The Vltava River had a tremendous flood and the city had to restore the old town area.

 

Location :The mighty complex of the castle is erected on the rock promontory which has been sculpted by the Vltava river from the southern side and by Polečnice stream from the northern side. The castle towers proudly above the refined Renaissance and Baroque burgher architecture of the town below. The town, together with the magnificent Church of St.Vitus and the complex of the castle, creates an unique feature of the whole region. Like a precious pearl, the town of Český Krumlov is situated in the valley surrounded with the massif of Blansko Forest to the north and the undulating foothills of Šumava to the south and west.
Area :
The castle area is one of the largest in central Europe. It is a complex of forty buildings and palaces, situated around five castle courts and a castle park spanning an area of seven hectares. The groundplan layout of Český Krumlov Castle shows the area and location of each court and building.

Name Origin :
The name of the castle Krumlov originated from Latin expression castrum Crumnau or ancient German Crumbenowe. It reflects the configuration of the landscape - krumben ouwe means the place on the rugged meadow. The Český Krumlov Castle was mentioned for the first time by an Austrian knight minnesinger Ulrich of Lichtenstein in his poem "Der Frauendienst" which dates back between the years 1240 and 1242.
The first written form of the name of Crumbenowe is included in a document of Austrian and Styrian Duke Otakar from 1253. At that time, Krumlov was the seat of Vítek of Krumlov who belonged to the powerful noble family of Witigonen. The expression "Český" has been used in connection with Krumlov since the middle of the 15th century.



The Tourists - enjoying this historic city

This part connects the old fortress with the upper city

looking back at the castle tower and the Vltava River

Tower of the Castle of Cesky Krumlov



I climbed the tower to see the views

The entrance to the dungeon - you would not want to be imprisoned here.

views of the Vltava River from the top of the tower

Tower of Cesky Krumlov:
 The tower, surrounded by the residential palace of the Little Castle, is situated on a narrow rocky promontory towering above Latrán and the Vltava River between the Ist and IInd Courtyard of Český Krumlov Castle.

Description:
This is a rounded six-storied tower. The lower part (first two stories) is much wider and is separated from the upper one by the cornice, with the original ceilings dating from the 1580\'s. The facade is decorated with illusively painted architecture. The second floor has a rounded ceiling as well. The ceiling above the third floor is a simple joist ceiling with a porthole and rounded windows with semicircular vaulted niches placed in the circular stonework. The belfry is on the fourth floor, where four bells are set on the bell supporting construction located in the high ceiling room. The fifth storey is an arcaded barrel-vaulted gallery with triagonal segments. The corridor passes upwards through the Renaissance portal into a segmental hutch-vaulted room. The room with the clock is situated on the sixth floor and is lit by small rounded windows. Above the simple joist ceiling is a garret with the lower part of the truss. On the top of the tower is a lantern with 4 bells.



views of the old city from the fort and the tower

Cesky Krumlov - Museum of Bohemian Krumlov Dynasty - The Rose Kings

 

The storerooms of the so-called Hrádek, the oldest section of the castle, hold a collection of stone statues. You then move on to the Hall of the Lords of the Rose where you’ll learn about the glorious deeds of the powerful Vítkovec family. In the Hall of the Krumlov Dukes you’ll be acquainted with the Habsburg era when the rulers of Bohemia held sway here through the Eggenberg family from Styria. Packed with sacred art, the treasury sheds light on spiritual life here and the Catholic faith. You can also have a look round the mint, the armoury and many other interesting places. The tour comes to an end with a film dating back to the early 20th century.



Darrell especially enjoyed the military displays.

The musical disply

Note the flag displays the rose emblem of the dynasty.

Cesky Krumlov - medieval fortress town

Cesky Krumlov -

The original Gothic castle, upon which the town of Český Krumlov was based, was founded by the Lords of Krumlov (one of the branches of the Vítkovci family. around 1253. The Vítkovci family was a branch of the powerful Witigonen family, which has the five-petalled rose in its coat-of-arms. In 1302, the last Witigonen died, and the Witigonens' relatives, the Rosenbergs (Rožmberk), inherited the castle. The Rosenbergs maintained their seat there until 1602. During this time, the town experienced its greatest prosperity, with rapid economic development, construction of new buildings, and the expansion of trade with other cities in the region.

 

In 1602, the Emperor Rudolf II von Habsbursg bought the Krumlov dominion. In 1622, it was transferred to the Eggenberg family. In the 1680's, under the rule of Johann Christian I. von Eggenberg, farming, construction, and the arts flourished, helping Český Krumlov rise out of a period of stagnation that resulted from the Thirty Years' War.

 

At the end of 17th century, the Castle Baroque Theatre was built; and the Castle Gardens were renovated. In 1719, a new dynasty, the Schwarzenbergs, inherited Český Krumlov. In the second generation of their rule, Joseph Adam zu Schwarzenberg began extensive reconstruction of the castle. During this time, the castle was developed with a Baroque character.

 

Towards the end of the 18th century, and in the 19th century, the economy and the arts stagnated. By the middle of the 19th century, the Český Krumlov Castle was no longer the main residence of the Krumlov-Hluboká Schwarzenberg family. In the 20th century, the World Wars caused further stagnation though Krumlov was spared damage from battles or from bombings. At the end of the war, the German population was expelled.

 

In 1989, the Velvet Revolution brought renewal to Český Krumlov, eventually leading to its inscription into the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1992.

We are visiting the walled fortress city of Cesky Krumlov - located in the southern part of the Czech Republic.

A UNESCO World Heritage location - has been a ruling fort since 1302.  The town is situated on the banks of the Vltava River - the same river in Prague.

Entrance into the city

Tower part of the fortress - now part of the Rozmberk Dynasty museum. 

Fountain inside the courtyard

The original - Budweiser Budvar in Ceske Budejovice

We are driving from Prague south to Cesky Krumlov then cross the Czech Republic border into Linz Austria.  This is a very scenic region of Bohemia. 

 

Our guide/driver is George and he has wonderful stories to share.

 

We had a fun stop in Ceske Budejovice to tour the Budweiser Brewery.

 

We have always been familiar with Budweiser beer.  However - we did not know the original Budweiser is actually in Czech Republic.  We visited the original Budweiser brewery and learned of the story of Adolphus Busch move to St. Louis and the legal battle that ensued.

 

However - we really just enjoyed the beer!

"Masters of Classical Music" Concert at the Mirror Chapel, Clemtinum

 

Links below to concert:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wON2cK3DfAg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHDgyN3DlVQ

Old New Synagogue in Jewish Ghetto Prague

 

A synagogue that remembers the Middle Ages

This massive stone structure, with its late-Gothic crowfoot gables, dates from around the year 1270. Originally called the New or Great Synagogue, it only came to be called the Old-New Synagogue with the building of further synagogues around the end of the 16^th century. It has survived floods, fires, pogroms and the clearance of the Jewish quarter at the end of the 19^th and beginning of the 20^th centuries. With the exception of the years 1942-45, it has served uninterrupted as the place of worship and main synagogue of the Prague Jewish community for over seven hundred years.

Legends of angels and the Golem

The building is surrounded by a number of myths and legends. It is said that, during fires in the ghetto, it was protected by the wings of angels in the form of doves; even better-known is the legend of the Golem. The legendary creator of the strange, artificial being, fashioned from clay, was the most famous rabbi of the mediaeval Prague ghetto, Rabbi Loew – Judah Loew ben Bezalel (1512–1609). So respected was Loew by the people that, to this day, no-one has sat in his chair in the synagogue since his death.

The Charles Bridge stroll

Views of Prague Castle from the Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge over the river Vltava is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Prague. It is the oldest bridge in the city, built between the 14 ^th and 15 ^th century, and it spans the river with 16 pillars. It is lined with statues and lamps and this scenery together with the Gothic bridge towers on both ends makes the Charles Bridge a breathtaking historical monument. There is no better place in Prague for a walk in the evening.