by Janet Sandford

Created on: July 31, 2009

The main destination for many visitors in the Czech Republic is Prague but there is another special town not far away in South Bohemia. Its name is Cesky Krumlov and can be reached by bus from Prague's central bus station.

Sometimes the countryside in between towns in this region can be plain, flat and somewhat dull but fortunately the splendid Gothic and Baroque architecture make up for this.

The Vlatva river forms two wide arcs around the town. One of the semi circles encloses the Old Town, and in the second loop stands the castle. It comes as no surprise that this beautiful historical centre was added to UNESCO's World heritage List in 1992.

The rather ramshackle buildings and the monastery in the Latiran quarter were once desperately in need of attention. When the Germans - who had lived here since the town was founded by the Viteks - were evicted in the post war period, many buildings fell into disrepair, but much has been preserved and work is still being carried out.

The river is actually a very pretty sight; spanned by wooden bridges, meandering through quiet pastures. It is peaceful to walk alongside the river and listen to the sound of wildlife as you pass by.

Krumlov's Gothic and Baroque features are best appreciated on a late summer afternoon. There are many hidden features. The shapes, the colours, the narrow alleyways, the crooked arcades -a wonderful experience when walking through the streets.

Walking around the twisted streets you will notice lots of visitors and many from nearby Austria. It is like going on a journey back into the Middle Ages.

The castle is probably the main attraction - it is the second biggest in the country after Hradcany in Prague. The 13th century, pastel pink tower, can be seen from practically everywhere in the town. About 300 years after the tower was built, the fortress was converted into a Renaissaince castle and then in the 18th century, the Schwarzenbergs built the unique castle bridge. Three arcades, forty metres high and 30 metres long were built one on top of another.

There is a very special artistic atmosphere in Krumlov. In the years when private initiatives were frowned upon elsewhere in Czechoslovakia, galleries were opening here and the town played host to avant-garde artistic festivals. The Hall of Masques in the upper castle is the best place to witness this independent spirit. Visitors can be guests at a commedia dell' arte, a masque; the walls are covered with painted theatre boxes, grimacing

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