Fodor's To Europe!
Český Krumlov
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Days 5-6
The country's second most popular tourist destination after Prague itself, Český Krumlov draws throngs of visitors, especially in summer. The town offers a classic Czech experience: a beautiful castle, a breathtaking central square, a local brewery, and river activities like boating and rafting.
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- Art and Culture
- Architecture
Experiences
- Český Krumlov's castle is a Renaissance marvel. The theater, added in the late 1700s, is particularly fascinating, especially the display of instruments that were used for sound effects.
- Explore Unity Square, lined with shops and overlooking the castle; the Town Hall, built in 1580, is famed for its Gothic arcades.
- The Egon Schiele Center features work by the artist, once a Český Krumlov resident, as well as by his contemporary Expressionists.
Festivals
- The International Music Festival is held from mid-July to mid-August. Acts run the gamut from opera stars to singers performing Broadway-style musical numbers.
Side Trips
- The Hrad Rožmberk, 18 mi/29 km south of town and worth exploring, is slowly returning to glory after years of misuse and is a nice bike ride from Český Krumlov.
- Get a peat mud-mask treatment in the town of Třeboň, 30 mi/48 km northeast of Český Krumlov. The soil here is rich in iron and supposedly good for bone health.
