Things to see and do South Bohemia

On the hill of Český Krumlov, the imposing castle complex assembles volumes built around five inner courtyards and gardens that stretch out into the countryside. The second largest castle in the Czech Republic (the complex consists of nearly forty buildings) after Prague Castle, it shares with the latter impressive dimensions and a commanding location above the city and the Vltava River. The courtyards and other elements are connected by passages and footbridges that make the visit very entertaining. The city has always developed around the castle, according to the families who owned it. A small fortress founded in the middle of the 13th century by the Víkovici family, it was constantly enlarged to satisfy the ambitions and power of its rich owners. In 1302, the founding family died out. The period of the most important works began, carried out by the Rožmberk family, especially during the 16th century. It became the main residence of this family. Their emblem, a red rose, adorns many rooms of the castle. In the 18th century, the Eggenberk family (1622-1719) and the Schwarzenberg family (1719 onwards) carried out numerous Baroque renovations: construction of the Bellarie riding hall and belvedere, remodeling of the chapel, decoration of the carnival hall (prodigious trompe l'oeil of a masked ball with Pierrot, Harlequin and all the characters of the commedia dell'arte), construction of the new castle theater and the beautiful bridge (Pláštový most) formed by a three-story corridor supported by high piers.. In 1938, Krumlov was annexed to Austria by the Nazis, who expropriated the Schwarzenbergs. The Czech minority was expelled. In 1945, the city was liberated and the German population was in turn expelled. The Czechs from Krumlov and other parts of the country repopulated Krumlov.

Depending on how much time you have to devote to the visit, choose from one of the tours offered: one gives a complete overview of the original Renaissance and Baroque rooms, while another focuses more on the history of the Schwarzenberg family.

The first courtyard is characterized by a sloping ground. It was the center of local economic life under the Schwarzenbergs. It is surrounded by an old pharmacy (14th century, facades covered with sgraffiti), a hospital, stables from the 16th century, a gothic residence, an old farm, a dairy, a forge, a brewery. In short, a real small town in its own right. A stone bridge allows you to cross the moat. At the bottom of the moat, you will see bears. These animals are, by tradition and then by interest (big success with children), kept here in captivity since the 16th century! The moat is quite green, vast, but it is obvious that the animals are bored.

Past the plantigrades' pit, we reach the next courtyard, dominated by the 13th-century Gothic palace (Hrádek, transformed into a Renaissance palace in the 16th century). The tower that defended it has been elevated with beautiful arcade galleries. The Renaissance tower dominates the whole city and has become its symbol. Its elegance, the richness of its ornaments contrast with the high walls (40 m high) austere. You can climb up this round tower of the castle.

Around two slightly dark courtyards, this part of the castle has been continuously developed between the 14th and 18th centuries. Several rooms of the buildings which compose it can be visited. The most beautiful is the Salle des Masques. It was used for large balls and receptions, as shown by the superb trompe l'oeil paintings (1748) whose colorful and smiling characters invite to the party. In other rooms, furniture from different periods, a collection of tapestries from Brussels, or an impressive 17th century gilded coach. Don't miss a walk through the cellars, which are arranged on several levels. The cellars are named after Wenceslas IV who was imprisoned there in 1394. Today, they are frequently used to display ceramics by local and international artists.

Zámecké Divadlo You will have to "undertake" the crossing of the ravine to reach this other jewel of the Krumlov castle. It is a beautiful rococo theater built in 1680 by the Eggenbergs. It is exceptional and precious for the history of this art, because it has been perfectly preserved. Thus, the room, the sets, the costumes, but also the wooden machinery are the same as in the beginning. It still gives very popular performances.

Not far away is the former riding school, the " gateway" to the castle gardens.The gardens were laid out by Johann Christian von Eggenberg (who built the Baroque theater) and are a pleasant extension of the visit, with pavilions such as the rococo Bellaria pleasure pavilion, the music pavilion, a fountain with waterfalls, a winter riding school, and a vinarná around a large fireplace. Natural areas and formal flowerbeds are combined. The garden also houses a revolving theater, the setting for the summer festival. This is a surprising place: here it is not the stage that turns, but the spectators' stands.

This is accomplished by taking a wide path lined with trees. He suddenly appears, all white, crewed, pretentious. It is a great neo-Gothic castle that the Schwarzenberk built in 1841-1871 to make it their residence and to allow the permanent installation of a large collection of works of art. The fragments of all the pre-existing buildings (the first date of the thirteenth century) - strong castle, Renaissance construction or baroque - were incorporated into this monumental «Windsor Gothic» overloaded. The current aspect is therefore the nineteenth century. It is more an aristocratic residence (the most beautiful in the country we say) than a castle. The visit is justified for the rooms (there are 140!) entirely covered with marked woodworks.

They harbor beautiful collections: weapons, furniture, tapestries and goblin in Brussels, paintings (portraits above all). The largest hall in the castle is the library, a vast reserve of knowledge of 12,000 volumes in several languages. His centerpiece is a copy of the first edition of the Diderot Encyclopedia. With a beautiful winter garden in glass and metal, you reach the old armory (jízdárna - horse riding room), stables, the deposit of calèche. This package hosts temporary or permanent expos. Finally, a visit by Hluboká would only be complete after traveling through the alleys of the English park open all year round: long wooded roads, ponds, small baroque buildings, flower beds… And the Vltava is nearby.

Near the castle, in the old stables of the Schwarzenberg, you will also have the opportunity to visit the Aleš Gallery (Alšova jihočeská gallery), which offers a very wide spectrum of works of art from the Middle Ages to the present day. Above all, the collection of Flemish and Czech art works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (open from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. from April to September, until 4 p. m. October to March). Closed from December 24-31. Tariff 80 Kč, reduced 20 Kč for the entire gallery. Free on Sunday. News: 387 967 041/120 - www.ajg.cz - [email protected]).

Well organized and friendly welcome. Informations about accommodation, tourist attractions…

Blatná is a charming town in the Czech Republic. For tourist information, visitors can go to the Infocentrum Blatná, located at tř. J. P. Koubka 4. Visitors can get information on local attractions, upcoming events and things to do in the area. Whether exploring the town's history, enjoying the surrounding nature or sampling the local cuisine, Infocentrum Blatná is an ideal starting point for tourists wishing to explore this beautiful part of the Czech Republic.

Strakonice offers a historic atmosphere with its picturesque town center and traditional architecture. The Strakonice Tourist Office is an ideal starting point for visitors wishing to discover the town and its surroundings. Here you'll find all the information you need on tourist attractions, local events, accommodation and available activities. The friendly staff will be delighted to help you plan your stay in Strakonice. Don't hesitate to visit the Tourist Office for brochures, maps and advice on the best places to visit in the area.

This hiking-friendly area stretches between Holašovice in the north and Český Krumlov in the south. The protected area covers 212 km² and is dominated by Mount Kleť (1,084 m). Many marked trails lead to the panoramic tower of the mountain. The less courageous and those in a hurry can take the small chairlift from the parking lot in Krasetín, 5 km from Holubov. Thrill seekers can also take a canoe trip on the Vltava River - an exciting and unforgettable experience.

Around Třeboň, a beautiful region of quiet ponds and deep forests spreads out. This exceptional environment has earned Třeboň the nickname "city of ponds". But more importantly, part (700 km2) of this wonderful mirror landscape has been listed as a Unesco biosphere reserve since 1977. These lands are very fertile and partly exploited for centuries. But when the first inhabitants arrived, it was very difficult to grow anything. When it was decided to build Třeboň, the area was deserted, because inhospitable. So the newcomers irrigated, drained, transformed the surrounding land. Thus, these artificial ponds (rybník) allowed for intense fish farming and export of fish throughout Central Europe, including the famous "Třeboň carp" (carp is the favorite fish of the Czechs, they cook it in many ways, throughout the year, and at Christmas in particular). You can walk through these beautiful landscapes along marked paths, starting from Masarykovo náměstí square in Třeboň and passing through Rožmberk, Hodějov, Smítka, Klec ponds and many others (campground addresses, information and maps at the tourist office in Třeboň). These tours are not difficult and can be done on foot, by bike, and some ponds, in the summer season, can be crossed by canoe. Enough to vary the pleasures of discovery of this beautiful region!

The vault of this family is located on the other side of the Svět Pond, in a beautiful park. The vault-chapel is a rather pretentious pseudo-Gothic ensemble, which is due to the architects Schmidt and Deworetzky who built it in 1877. The members of the Schwarzenberg dynasty who died after 1785 are buried here. The surrounding park is an ideal place for a picnic. You can walk around the Svět Pond (12 km). This walk is a popular romantic activity for the locals.

If you want to be scared, you can access the middle of the swamp by a wooden footbridge of about 300 m long. From the end of the footbridge, you will have a view on a marshy lake whose peat reaches 7 m thickness! This path, practicable from May to September, allows a very original intrusion in the natural park. Another, less impressive, swamp is accessible about 3 km from Kvilda, called the Jezerní stat lake swamp.

This path will take you through the valley of the Vydra River, from Čenkova Pila to Antýgl. It is 7 km long, one of the most beautiful trails in the region, and also one of the easiest. It can be walked both in summer and winter (in winter, only for the very brave), and allows you to admire all the flora and fauna of the region. The rocks falling from the surrounding hills form vertiginous waterfalls. On the left bank of the Vydra river, one should not miss the very surprising rock formations named Baba (old), Panna (virgin) and Mnich (monk).

7 km east of Tábor (take the train to Chýnov and then 3 km on a marked road), the Chýnov cave will delight stalactite and stalagmite lovers. The passage is narrow, but the visit is easy. It is very beautiful! As is often the case when visiting caves in the Czech Republic, the times we indicate are only indicative and can change depending on the weather or the breeding season of the bats. Please check the website for more information.

It was named after the last bear killed in the Šumava on November 14, 1856. A commemorative plaque has been placed at the crime scene. The trail starts near the village of Ovesná. It is 15 km long and passes through two beautiful forests. At the foot of the first one, surprising rock and vegetation formations have been given evocative names. Halfway along, there is a magnificent view of the Šumava Mountains. From here you can admire the Deer Lake and the Schwarzenberg Canal.