Český Krumlov's old town sits inside a near-complete loop of the Vltava river, a natural moat that helped preserve its medieval and Renaissance layout almost untouched, the castle above it is the second-largest in the Czech Republic after Prague, and the whole ensemble is often, without much exaggeration, described as one of the best-preserved historic towns in Europe.
The Castle
Český Krumlov Castle, built up over the 13th to 18th centuries by a succession of noble families, includes a distinctive round tower painted in trompe-l'œil patterns and a bear moat where live bears have been kept, on and off, since the 16th century, the current residents are a genuine, if slightly unexpected, part of a castle visit.
The castle's cloak bridge, a covered three-tiered walkway connecting the upper castle to its garden and theatre, gives one of the best views down onto the old town's red rooftops and the river loop below.
The Old Town
The old town itself is small enough to walk fully in under two hours, but its density of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings (largely untouched by 20th-century development) rewards slower wandering, particularly along the riverside paths beneath the castle walls.
River rafting or canoeing down the Vltava, departing from just outside the old town, is a popular and relatively gentle way to see the town from the water, floating past the castle walls and under the town's medieval bridges.
Recommended Stay · Český Krumlov · Old Town
Hotel Ruze
A former Jesuit college directly below the castle, with river views and original Renaissance architecture throughout the building.
