Český Krumlov Castle

Český Krumlov Castle occupies a natural fortress above a horseshoe bend in the Vltava River, in the South Bohemian region 180 kilometres south of Prague. The Vltava almost entirely encircles the rocky spur on which the castle and the old town together stand, creating a moated peninsula that has shaped the settlement's fate for eight centuries. The painted round tower, its Renaissance exterior frescoes still vivid in pink, grey, and white, is the image most associated with Czech Krumlov worldwide and can be seen from almost any point in the surrounding hills. Together with the historic town below, the castle was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

The site was first fortified around 1240 by the Witigonen family, a powerful Bohemian noble dynasty. Control passed to the Rosenberg family in 1302, under whom the castle grew into one of the most significant noble residences in Bohemia. The Rosenbergs ruled for nearly three centuries and are responsible for much of the Gothic and early Renaissance structure that survives today, including the castle's five-courtyard layout and the iconic tower. In 1602 Emperor Rudolf II purchased the estate and it passed to the Eggenberg family in 1622, who undertook sweeping Baroque modifications including the construction of the castle theatre. The Eggenberg line died out in 1719 and the estate was inherited by the Schwarzenberg family, who owned it until the castle was confiscated by the Czechoslovak state after World War II. The Schwarzenberg family's long stewardship in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries produced the castle's portrait gallery, the English-style gardens, and the lavish apartments that visitors see on Tour 2 today.

The Baroque theatre is widely regarded as the best-preserved example of its kind in Europe. Constructed in the late seventeenth century and used intensively by the Eggenberg and early Schwarzenberg courts, it fell out of active use in the early nineteenth century and was essentially sealed — which is precisely why it survived. The original stage sets, painted backdrops, costumes, and mechanical stage machinery are largely intact, presenting a complete picture of Baroque theatrical practice that is extraordinarily rare. Also extraordinary is the tradition of keeping bears in the castle moat: the Rosenberg family began the practice in the sixteenth century as a status symbol — bears were emblems of the family crest — and the castle has maintained live bears in the moat ever since. Today two brown bears can usually be seen from the bridge crossing the first moat, and they are visible for free.

Český Krumlov receives several million visitors per year and the old town can feel overwhelmingly crowded during peak summer months, particularly at midday. Staying overnight transforms the experience: the crowds thin significantly after the tourist coaches leave in the late afternoon, and the castle flood-lit after dark is remarkable. The town also hosts the International Music Festival Český Krumlov each July, when performances take place in the castle gardens and courtyard. The castle is closed from November through March, so plan accordingly if visiting outside the summer season.