Český Krumlov District: Old Town, Castles and Landscapes

Between a medieval town, river and protected landscape

Český Krumlov District combines an exceptionally rich cultural history with the landscapes of Blanský les, the Vltava and Lipno. At its heart is the historic center of Český Krumlov: an intact Central European medieval town that developed around a 13th-century castle.

Culture among castles, museums and monasteries

Český Krumlov offers 300 protected monuments, a large castle complex and the Český Krumlov Monastery. The Baroque Theatre in the castle is one of the most comprehensively preserved Baroque theaters in the world. At the Castle Museum, you can learn more about the Lords of Krumlov and the Rosenbergs; the ascent to the castle tower leads up 162 steps and opens up views over the town and its surroundings.

The museum landscape also offers a variety of different focuses. The Egon Schiele Art Centrum presents a permanent exhibition on Egon Schiele as well as changing exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century art. The Monastery Museum is permanently dedicated to life and art in the monasteries of Český Krumlov. The offering is complemented by the Fotoateliér Seidel Museum, the Regional Museum, other museums, music festivals, concerts and exhibitions. In the wider region, you will also find remains of Celtic settlements, ruins, castles, chateaus, monasteries and churches.

The Vyšší Brod Monastery is a special cultural site. It houses the Záviš Cross, a medieval reliquary regarded as one of the most valuable medieval goldsmiths' works in the Czech Republic. Rožmberk Castle also expands the historical program with guided tours, including nighttime versions, a program for children and the reconstructed Jakobínka Tower.

Nature experiences in Blanský les

Blanský les is suitable for hiking and cycling and, with sufficient snow cover, for cross-country skiing. The administration of the protected landscape area maintains educational trails and information boards, publishes visitor materials, and organizes excursions and public events. The protected-area administration identifies the summit of Kleť and the Dívčí Kámen castle ruins as the most visited places in Blanský les.

Dívčí Kámen is a medieval fortress ruin situated on a high rock above the confluence of the Vltava and the Křemežský Stream. Kleť offers Bohemia's oldest observation tower; in suitable weather, the view extends as far as the Alps. These differences make the region interesting for a stay that combines historical sightseeing with paths through a protected landscape.

The Vltava, Lipno and active days

The Vltava forms the southeastern boundary of the Blanský les protected landscape area and is suitable for water tourism. A paddling route leads from Vyšší Brod to Nahořany and takes five hours; a stop at Rožmberk Castle is possible along the way. The Boating through Krumlov route offers a two-hour canoe or raft trip on the Vltava, including several weirs and views of the historic area of Krumlov. It usually begins at Nové Spolí and ends at a previously agreed location, usually at a campsite on the outskirts of Český Krumlov.

Those who would like to experience the river from a quieter perspective can choose an approximately one-hour sightseeing trip on wooden rafts. In the Lipno area, windsurfing, sailing and stand-up paddleboarding complement the water activities; excursion boats depart from a local marina. Five interconnected cycle paths are linked to Austrian and Šumava cycling routes, and three ferries connect the two shores. Lipno nad Vltavou also offers a bike park, a flow trail and a treetop trail. The Lipno ski resort has more than ten kilometers of pistes for family skiing.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore base your decision on a cultural stay in Český Krumlov, excursions into the protected landscape, water activities on the Vltava and Lipno, or a combination of these focuses. For an additional insight into nature and settlement history, the Naučná stezka Brložsko leads along a 7.2-kilometer route through the natural and cultural heritage of Brložsko.

Discover more places via Deutsch Beneschau, Krumau, Friedberg, Oberplan, Kaplitz, Krems, Lippen, Kienberg, Moyne, Borova, Höritz, Predni Vyton, Wettern, Ceske Chalupy, Rosenberg, Bessenitz, Adolfsthal, Malsching, Unterhaid, Brloh, Kalsching, Unterbreitenstein, Oberhaid, Meinetschlag, Groß Umlowitz, Theresiendorf, Tritesch, Rosenthal, Oemau, Kirchschlag, Netrobitz, Angern, Goldenkron, Podesdorf, Priethal, Mirkowitz, Chunzen, Neudorf B. Berlau, Subschitz, Prisnitz, Sirnin, Thurmplandles, Cerna V Posumavi, Vyšný, Klení, Hohenfurth, Gojau, Dluhoste, Polletitz, Zwickau and Velešín.

For the higher-level travel overview: South Bohemian Region.