Local, Near and Far: Our journey of exploring the world.

Tag: Bear Pit

Český Krumlov Castle – Gardens & Round Tower

The Round Tower

The Round Tower

Today, we continue exploring the most popular attraction in Český Krumlov, the Krumlov Castle.  Since there are many areas within the spectacular Castle complex, we began this miniseries with an overview of the Český Krumlov Castle, as well as information on the guided tours available.  In this second article, we concentrate on the Castle Gardens and the Round Tower.  The Gardens are simply beautiful, and the panoramic views from the Round Tower are worth the climb!

In general, the entire Castle is a must-see if you are anywhere near Český Krumlov!

Český Krumlov Castle Gardens

Český Krumlov Castle Gardens

The Castle Gardens:  After finishing the Castle Tour, we slowly walked across the multi-leveled bridge and continued the climb to the Gardens.  The views of the Old Town and Vltava River are awesome!  There is a small café with a wonderful observation point, allowing you to look back on the Castle stretching to your right. Continue reading

Český Krumlov Castle – Overview & Tour

Perched high on a cliff above the Old Town is the imposing Český Krumlov Castle, constructed to control an important river crossing on the Vltava below.  The Round Tower pierces the sky with its pastel-colored Renaissance façade.  Cross the draw bridge over the bear pits at the entrance, and walk steadily uphill through a sequence of courtyards until you cross a multi-leveled bridge and reach a Baroque theater.  Pleasant English and French style gardens add one additional layer of sophistication to the experience.

The Round Tower from the Courtyard

The Round Tower from the Courtyard

If you find yourself in Český Krumlov, this Castle and the complimenting beauty of its surroundings is likely what brought you here.  The best word I can find for this UNESCO World Heritage Site is picturesque!  There are no words, no pictures that can accurately capture the splendor of this small town in the southwest corner of the Czech Republic.

Well, now that I have set myself up with an impossible task, let me tell you more about this place…with words and pictures. Continue reading

Český Krumlov Town Overview

After two full days enjoying Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, Rebekah and I were looking forward to a change of pace as we explored a small portion of the Czech countryside!

We boarded a train at Praha Hlavní Nádraží Train Station in Prague’s New Town, and were on our way to Český Krumlov, a small town located in the Bohemian area of the Czech Republic.

With an early departure, we wanted to make sure we had everything prepared.  The day before our departure we purchased one-way tickets for 240 Crowns each, roughly $11.50.  Overall, we found the rail tickets  to be very reasonable as long as we did not cross country lines, which can escalate the prices.

The four hour train trip was comfortable.  Rebekah LOVES trains, and this leg of the trip was a highlight as we watched the Czech countryside pass before our eyes!  The only disturbance from the peaceful views was a large group of college-aged students having an overtly good time with alcohol.  We changed trains once in České Budějovice, where we found the locals extremely helpful in successfully making our connection.

At 1:00 PM, we arrived in the Český Krumlov! The main attraction of Český Krumlov is the town itself, dominated by its imposing Castle.  We loved exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site!  Český Krumlov is situated on a double oxbow on the Vltava River, with the Castle Town occupying the larger oxbow, and the Old Town occupying the smaller oxbow.

Continue reading