Today’s featured pictures highlight Krumlov Castle in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city of Český Krumlov. The historic core of Český Krumlov has 300 protected medieval era buildings, but its biggest landmark is its amazing castle complex, the second largest in the Czech Republic (only Prague’s is larger). The Castle’s tower dominates the scene at 180 ft tall!.
The Castle is not only the town’s most prominent visual landmark, but it’s epicenter. Český Krumlov was built around this castle, founded by the Lords of Krumlov (Vítkovci family) around 1253 AD. This family was a branch of the powerful Witingonen family, which had a five-petaled rose in its coat-of-arms (which you can see on the small banners in the accompanying photos); the Witingonens were later replaced by the Rosenberg family who inherited the castle and under whose rule the town prospered.
The Castle was built over several centuries and consists of some 40 buildings. As you might expect, its architecture is a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. It has beautiful gardens and a popular Baroque Theater whose history dates to the 17th century. Entry to the castle complex is free, but you need to pay for guided tours of the castle, which we took part in and enjoyed. It’s most definitely worth going out of your way to see Krumlov Castle and the town of Český Krumlov.
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