CESKY KRUMLOV

Ceský Krumlov is one of Bohemia's most beautiful towns, with a well protected historical centre that is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The city's castle is the second largest in the Czech Republic and it dominates the town from a hill overlooking the Vltava River.

It was known as Krumau until after WW II when the German-speaking population was evicted; Ceský Krumlov literally means 'Czech Krumlov'. Construction of the town and castle began in the late 13th century at a ford in the Vltava River which was important in trade routes. Most of the architecture of the old town and castle region dates from the 14th century through 17th century, structures are in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. The core of the old town is within a horseshoe bend of the river, with the old Latran neighborhood and castle on the other side of the Vltava.

Ceský Krumlov is the Czech Republic's important cultural center, hosting a number of festivals and other events each year.

The best known one is the 5-petalled Rose Festival, which is celebrated on the weekend of summer solstice in June. The whole downtown area is cleared of traffic and turned into a 'medieval' town again with craftsmen, artists, musicians, and local people dressed in costumes ranging anywhere from peasants to members of the court and nobility. Various activities such as jousting, fencing, historical dance performances, and folk theatre plays take place all over the town including the castle, the local park, and the river bank. The festival is concluded by a spectacular firework show above the castle.