UNESCO protects this magic 16th century town and castle in South Bohemia. On Mondays or in winter, when the castle is closed, you can see instead the exteriors of castles outside the town such as Hluboka, Konopiste, or the museum of Austrian painter Egon Schiele in Cesky Krumlov. This town is the second most popular to see after Prague.
9 HOUR ROUND TRIP
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We recommend a combination with
Velke Popovice brewery , Konopiste castle , Hluboka castle , Brewery Budweiser Budvar and Ceske Budejovice town, Trebon castle and medieval town is possible.

CASTLE HISTORY
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The original Gothic castle was founded by the Lords of Krumlov some time before 1250. They represented a branch of the powerful family of the Witigonen with the five-petalled rose in their coat-of- arms.
When the Lords of Krumlov died out in 1302, their relatives the Rosenbergs inherited the castle. The Rosenberg family had their seat there up till 1602. There name as well as the three centuries of their rule is connected with the greatest era of flourish of the town and castle. In the second half of the 16th century the castle was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance residence. The town gained most of its present appearance at this time as well. At that time the rulers of the Rosenberg dominion represented eminent personalities among Bohemian aristocracy, educated humanists, patrons of the culture and arts and prominent politicians all filling the highest post within Bohemian Kingdom.
The last member of the Rosenberg family, Petr Vok,sold the Krumlov castle and estates to the Viennese Emperor Rudolf the Second in 1602.
Twenty years later, the Emperor Ferdinand the Second gave the Krumlov estates to the Eggenbergs, a powerful noble family from Upper Austria. Thanks to Prince Johann Christian I. of Eggenberg, who represents the third generation of the Eggenberg family, more intensive development of farming, building activities and arts was evident in the 1680´s and the Český Krumlov Castle surmounted the period of provincial backwardness and stagnation in economy and arts resulting from the Thirty Years´ War. Prince Johann Christian of Eggenberg converted Český Krumlov Castle into an impressive Baroque seat.
As the Eggenbers died out without successors in 1719, the new dynasty - the princely lineage of the Schwarzenbergs - inherited Krumlov castle and estates. As early as in their second generation Josef I. Adam of Schwarzenberg showed his creative personality. A deft and enterprising businessman as well as a pasionate art lower, he played an important role in the far-reaching reconstructions of the castle. Inclination towards the culture of the imperial residence in Vienna contributed to the enrichment of building innovations as well as of social life at the castle with the cultural impetusof European importance. Towards the end of the 18th century, and especially in the 19th century, the protracted stagnation of art and economy became evident, and after the middle 19th century the Český Krumlov Castle lost its role as the main residence of the Krumlov-Hluboká Schwarzenberg branch and was not regularly inhabited even in the 20th century.
In 1947, the Schwarzenberg property, including Ceský Krumlov, was transferred to the Czech provincial properties and after the abolition of the provincial systém it became the property of the Czechoslovak State in 1950.

CASTLE TOURS

Tour Route I
The first route at Český Krumlov Castle is focused on the original castle interiors from the Ranaissance and Baroque periods (16th - 18th centuries). It includes among other room the Castle Chapel of St. George, Eggenberg Hall with a "golden" carriage and Masquerade Hall.

Tour Route II
The second tour route at Cesky Krumlov Castle focuses on the history of the Schwarzenberg family. It begins with a visit to the Schwarzenberg portrait gallery with paintings of members from the forefather Erkinger up to the early 20th century, and ends with a tour of the corridors of the "Cloak" Bridge.

Tour Route III
Baroque Theatre at Cesky Krumlov Castle is the best preserved Baroque Theatre in Europe, in its original building and with orchestra pit, stage, machinery, sets, librettos, props, costumes etc preserved. Due to its delicate restoration, the Baroque Theatre has become a unique complexly preserved historical sight.

Tour Route IV
The new Castle Museum exhibition was opened in 2011 by the National Heritage Institute. Museum visitors have a unique opportunity to peek into the secrets of the castle depositories relating to the most important events connected with the Rožmberk, Eggenberk and Schwarzenberg owners of the Krumlov estate. Entry to the Castle Museum exhibition is individual, without a guide but with the option to rent an audioguide.


UNESCO NUMBER ONE IN EUROPE
Cesky Krumlov is situated on the River Vltava with the ancient town center on one bank and the castle ground on the other bank. The landmark of the panorama of the town is Cesky Krumlov Castle which consists of two parts: the Lower castle with a round tower (built in the 13th century) and the Upper castle, built in the 14th century. The castle was expanded several times. Later, the owners made some Baroque modifications: the chapel was rebuilt, masquerade hall decorated and a new manor theatre built. After Prague Castle, it is the second most outstanding castle in the Czech Republic. The magnificent interiors of the castle are open to the public (historical interiors--two sight-seeing routes). The castle´s viewing tower and exhibition rooms are also open to the public. You can also see the Museum of the famous painter Egon Schiele in the town.

Town History
According to legend, the name Krumlov is derived from the German "Krumme Aue", which may be translated as "crooked meadow". The name comes from the natural topography of the town, specifically from the tightly crooked meander of the Vltava river. The word "Český" simply means Czech, or Bohemian (actually one and the same), as opposed to Moravian or Silesian. In Latin documents it was called Crumlovia or Crumlovium. The town was first mentioned in documents from 1253, where Krumlov was called Chrumbonowe. The flow of the Vltava River has long been a natural transportation entrance to this region. In the Early Middle Ages the routes along the Vltava river created the trade routes torical Routes in the Cesky Krumlov Region. In the 9th century the area was probably owned by the noble Czech family of Slavníkovci, who were slaughtered by the rival family of Premyslovci in 995. This area then became their property. In accordance with the principles of internal colonization and bestowing of sovereign domains in fief to members of a sovereign dynasty, this domain was thus given by the ruling family of Přemyslovci to one of their own lines - The Witigonen in Czech known as the Vítkovci.
According to the legend, the family of Witigonen has its origins in Ancient Rome. The family was related to the Roman Ursini family, who is said to have resided on the mountain "Mons Rosarum" near the city of Rome. After Rome was plundered by the hordes of the Visigoth leader Totila in 546, the family left Rome and one of its members named Vítek (in German, Witigon) travelled together with his wife and child up to the north, passed the Donau river and settled in Southern Bohemia. He started a new family there and gradually acquired extensive domains, which he gave to his five sons before his death. Each son received a coat-of-arms with a five- petalled rose, the color of which symbolized each particular dominion.
So much for legend - historical reality offers us some slight variations. Vítek did not come to South Bohemia in the 6th but the 12th century, and he did not come from the Italian family of Ursini but from the family line of a Czech Princess of the Přemyslovci. In 1173 Vítek of Prčice was mentioned as an envoy to the Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa, and in 1179 he apparently settled in Southern Bohemia.
In 1251 the Bohemian King Přemysl Otakar II gained Austrian lands through marriage to Anna Maria of Bamberg. Přemysl Otakar II, with his well-thought out colonization policy, tried to populate the sporadically settled Šumava region in the Czech- Austrian borderland and this way integrate his domains in Bohemia with his newly gained territories in Austria.
The town name was first mentioned in a letter of Duke Otokar Styrsky in 1253. The town was established essentially in two stages. The first part was built spontaneously below the Krumlov castle, called Latrán and settled mostly by people who had some administrative connection with the castle. The name and foundation of this part of town is shrouded in legend as well - the castle and town were allegedly built in a place where the Vítkovci overcame a nest of bandits that had been kidnapping and thieving. To the memory of the villain´s hiding place it was called Latrán (Tales and Legends of Český Krumlov). The reality is, however, more prosaic - latus in latin means lateral, side part and residences below the castle were given this name.
The second part of the town was founded as a typical settlement on a "green meadow", i.e. in a place where no previous settlement had been. The town subsequently took shape as a typical colonisation ground plan with a quadratic square in the centre with streets from its corners leading to the town walls.
In 1302 the Krumlovian branch of the Vítkovci died out, and according to the law of escheat their domains should have passed to the king. At that time the Krumlovian estates consisted of a relatively extensive network of castles and smaller subject towns which were sources of numerous incomes for aristocracy. A member of another powerful branch of the Vítkovec family, Jindřich von Rosenberg, asked the king Václav II to override the law of escheat and vest the Krumlovian estates to The Rosenbergs. They later made Krumlov the main residence of their family.
During the rule of the Rosenberg family, the town as well as the castle flourished. Crafts and trade developed, elaborate homes were built, and the town was endowed with various privileges such as the right to mill, brew beer, hold markets, etc. Meat shops and breweries were built, and twice a year there was a fair. In 1376 there were 96 houses in the town.
Peter I von Rosenberg was the sovereign responsible for giving the town its original 14th century appearance. He was brought up in the Cistercian Monastery in Vyssi Brod, and this upbringing had a strong influence on his personality. Under his rule the Rosenberg estates flourished. Peter became first man of the politics of the day and at the same time the richest aristocrat in the country.
The town´s later fifteenth century appearance was given especially by Ulrich II. von Rosenberg. Under his rule, the territory was considerably enlarged, due especially to his clever policy during the Hussite Wars. At the beginning Ulrich supported the Hussite movement, especially in matters of the speculation of church properties. During this time he enriched himself with territories formerly owned by the Cistercian Monastery Zlatá Koruna or Milevsko. After the Hussite disturbances calmed down, he reverted back to the side of the Catholic church and his court in Krumlov became a refuge for Catholic intelligence and artists expelled from Prague. His court thus became a political centre and a bastion of support for the Pope´s process of recatholisation, and at the same time he associated personalities which were gradually accepting ideas of Humanism and Renaissance in the Czech environment.
In the 16th century the town was ruled by the last Rosenbergs who considerably influenced the present appearance of the town and its surroundings. The Renaissance magnate Wilhelm von Rosenberg, the most considerable aristocratic personality of the politics and culture of that time, especially initiated reconstructions of townhouses as well as the castle into Renaissance style. On 14th August 1555 Wilhelm joined the two parts of town which had been up to then seperate, Latrán and the Old town, to prevent litigations concerning particular privileges.
Peter Wok von Rosenberg, the last member of the family, was forced by debts to sell Krumlov to Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg in 1601, who placed his illegitimate son Don Julius there for a short period of time. In 1611 the town faced the heavy assault of the Passau army, during the Thirty Years War it was occupied by the Emperor´s army, and in 1648 it was invaded by the Swedish army. The Thirty Years´ War brought a new lordship to the town; the Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg vested the town to the Styrian family of Eggenberg in 1622 in return for their financial suppor during the war. Afterwards three generations of the Eggenbergs held Cesky Krumlov. Only the third-generation personality Johann Christian I. von Eggenberg influenced the town and castle´s appearance by grand construction works and rich cultural and social events.

The family of Eggenbergs died out at the beginning of the 18th century and in 1719 their heirs the Schwarzenbergs came to Krumlov. Under the rule of Joseph Adam zu Schwarzenberg, Český Krumlov overcame the imaginary borders of parochialism for the third time.
During World War II there were neither any significant battles in Český Krumlov nor bombing. Krumlov was liberated in 1945 by the American army.
Since the mid 1960's, special care has been devoted to the preservation of the historical merits of Cesky Krumlov; the town was included in 1992 onto UNESCO\'s List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.



S from Prague – 2,5hours
Trips :
1)Cesky Krumlov trip number CSS1 – 9hour round trip

Trips combinations :
2)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Hluboka castle CSS3 – 11hour round trip
3)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Ceske Budejovice town and brewery CSS5 – 10hour round trip
4)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Konopiste castle CSE1 - 10hour round trip
5)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Orlik castle CS4 - 10hour round trip
6)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Cervena Lhota castle CSS6 - 10hour round trip
7) Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Jindrichuv Hradec CSS2 – 11hour round trip
8) Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Trebon town and castle CSS4 - 11hour round trip
9) Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Jindrichuv Hradec CSS2 + Ceske Budejovice CSS5 - 12hour round trip
10) Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Jindrichuv Hradec CSS2 + Hluboka castle CSS3 - 12hour round trip
11)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Orlik castle CS4 + Hluboka castle CSS3 - 12hour round trip
12)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Hluboka castle CSS3 + Ceske Budejovice CSS5 - 12hour round trip
13)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Karlstejn CSW1 - 12 hour round trip
14)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Konopiste castle CSE1 + Hluboka castle CSS3 - 12hour round trip
15)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Jindrichuv Hradec CSS2 + Konopiste castle CSE1 - 12hour round trip
16)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Orlik castle CS4 + Hluboka castle CSS3 - 12hour round trip
17)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Trebon town and castle CSS4 - 11hour round trip
18)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Trebon town and castle CSS4 + Hluboka castle CSS3 - 12hour round trip
19)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Trebon town and castle CSS4 + Jindrichuv Hradec CSS2 - 13hour round trip
20)Cesky Krumlov on the way to Wien - transfer to Wien + 20% of the price
21)Cesky Krumlov CSS1 + Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria CA6 - 13hour round trip
22)Plzen CSWW1 + Cesky Krumlov town and castle CSS1 - 12hour round trip
What the chateaux of the Loir river symbolise in France that the castles of the Moldau (Vltava ) river are in the Central Europa. CESKY KRUMLOV - the magic 16th century city protected by the UNESCO ORLIK CASTLE - again the ownership of the Schwarzenberg family laying on the left bank of the Vltava river offers the magnificient collections of art. HLUBOKA CASTLE - the most beautiful castle in Bohemia . THE WHOLE TRIP TAKES 12 HOURS

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