by Judy Bereza, guest blogger
This is the description of an excursion from our river cruise on the Danube to a town in the Czech Republic, two hours away by bus, that my husband and I had never heard of. Described as a perfectly preserved town dating from the 13th century that had remained largely untouched throughout the years was too good to pass up.
We learned on the way to our destination that it was the second most visited site in the CzechRepublic after Prague. It owed its two part name to a geographic designation, Cesky, and the crooked, horseshoe part of the river around which it was settled, Krumlov. Often overrun with tourists in the summer, we were told that we were visiting at a good time, early spring.
When we arrived, we dutifully followed our guide (carrying a flag to keep her “flock” contained) up a hill and into a series of castle courtyards. The courtyards were surrounded by buildings that were covered with trompe l’oeil architectural paintings. As we walked along the renowned Cloak Bridge, which joined separate parts of the castle, we were presented with stunning vistas of the town below. A town that looked the same to an observer in the 16th century as it did to us. No wonder the whole town is a UNESCO destination.
As with most medieval towns, the ruling families changed over the centuries, and the castleitself passed through successive rulers. As expected, the stories of intrigue, violence, infidelity and illegitimacy abound. The castle tours were not available on the date of our visit,but the town itself begged to be explored. The streets and walkways were the same asthey were in medieval times, unchanged, and a living museum.
We spent several hours steeped in history, walking through narrow alleyways, admiringhistoric residences still showcasing their original architectural style and elements. ,slipping into gothic churches, and sampling various examples of chocolate (and beer). Cesky Kumlov has several local breweries and chocolateries, and indulging is a part of the experiences.
After all, when a town is notable for this, indulging is part of the experience.
After a respite along the river, soaking in the sun and reveling in our step back into history, we boarded our bus, transported, literally, back to the future.
Dick and Judy traveled with friends on a River Boat Cruise on the Scenic company, from Nuremberg to Prague with an extension in Prague. April 2023. Judy reports that this is a good time for a Cruise. The destinations are not as crowded as they can be in the summer. Link to this RiverBoat company is here.
Judy loves to travel with family and friends, taking off on adventures far and near with her husband, family and friends. A retired interior designer, Judy divides her time between Michigan and Florida, while making many trips each year to visit grandchildren in other states.
