Centro Histórico de Český Krumlov

The beautiful medieval town of Sesky Krumlov is located in the southern part of the Czech Republic, Bohemia, and extends over the banks of the Moldavian River, home to the impressive Krumlov Castle and the historic and medieval center of the city. The town of Sesky Krumlov is a UNESCO protected site. The history of Sesky Krumlov is full of ups and downs. At the beginning of the 14th century and until the beginning of the 17th century, the town belonged to the family of the Czech lords Rosenberg, and during this period it underwent innumerable changes. Churches, houses and markets were built and the town became very prosperous. On the other hand, very dark times came during the Thirty Years' War. Normalcy returned in the 17th century, and since then Sesky Krumlov has prospered under the influence of a new family of aristocratic lords, the Agenberg family, and later the Rosenbergs. During the turbulent first half of the 20th century, when most European cities were trapped in world wars, Sesky Krumlov managed to protect its historical status, thanks to the fact that there were no major disputes in the vicinity. This is largely the reason why we can still appreciate the spectacular and original beauty of important historical sites. In the narrow, stone streets of the old town, tourists find an enchanting atmosphere, surrounded by more than 300 well-preserved historical buildings. The buildings of the historical center largely retain the medieval and Renaissance appearance, and many of its elements are original. In the Svornosti Square was a fountain from the 16th century to 1844, a simple and small stone column with water running through four pipes that emerged from the center. The column was decorated with a pyramid at the top. Around the square is this beautiful and original palace. This Renaissance building in the corner of the town square is crowned by four hyperbolic ceilings. Each one runs perpendicularly to the front of the facade. The town square of Sesky Krumlov is surrounded by colorful buildings. On a smaller numerical scale, more non-artistic, are the small and large houses of the citizens, the gardens of the summer houses, the niche of the chapel, and the old paper mill. Due to its geographical location, south of Bohemia, the region of Sesky Krumlov has been part of important historical and cultural events in the central region of Europe. The origin of the Moldavian River is located in Sumava, under the Serna mountain, at an altitude of 1,172 meters above sea level. The heart of the town is enclosed in a curve in the shape of a river gorge, next to the old town of Latran and with the castle on the other side of the Moldavian River. In the Middle Ages, the most important function of the river was navigation. During the colonization of the country, the need for wood for the construction of towns and castles grew. This was supplied by bringing it afloat by the river. One of the best ways to see Sesky Krumlov is by the river. The inhabitants swim through its waters, and dozens, if not hundreds of people, sail in inflatable canoes and rafts. Two figures define the line of the horizon of Sesky Krumlov. The castle and the tower of the church of San Vito personify the power of the Holy Christianity. The western facade of the church incorporates a tower with square Roman windows. The highest part of the spire is of the sevdo-gothic style and dates from between 1893 and 1894. Originally built as a small church, it lacked the capacity to meet the needs of the growing population of the residential capital of the town of Rosenberg. Therefore, at the beginning of Peter Rosenberg himself, the construction of a church of greater proportions began. The church of San Vito is built in the form of three parallel arcades that emerge from a presbytery of five sides. It has sacristies of multiple levels on both sides of the chapels of the Resurrection and of San Juan de Nepomuk and of the antechamber located on the north side. The complex of the castle is proudly built on a rock on the Moldavian River and the old town of Sesky Krumlov, creating an unparalleled Renaissance and Baroque pearl throughout the region. This is one of the largest castles in Central Europe. Forty buildings and palaces spread across five courtyards and the castle park. The name of the castle originated from a Latin expression gastrum crumnau, or old German city. This reflects the configuration of the landscape. The development of the building from the 14th to the 19th century is preserved according to the original plan. The structure of the materials, the interior of the facilities, and the architectural details. The Cluac Bridge is named after the fortifications used to protect the west side of the castle. The three-level arched bridge is supported by massive stone pillars. This technically challenging construction and at the same time impressive connects the fourth and fifth courtyards of Sesky Krumlov Castle. During the reign of Rudolf II of Habsburg, it was mentioned as a bridge with a door and a window. The first part made of wood that covers the corridor leading to the garden was about to be built in 1706. The theater of Sesky Krumlov Castle was connected to the corridor by stairs. The restoration of Sesky Krumlov Castle, now and in the near future, focuses on the preservation and exaltation of the originality of the castle complex. The state of the castle is exceptional. The historical and cultural heritage has been preserved impeccably, so much so that you can almost breathe the original atmosphere. The tower, surrounded by the residential palace of the Palacete, is located on a narrow promontory rock over the Atran River and the Voldava River. The origins of this structure are partly Gothic and partly Renaissance, as is evident by the appearance of the external tower. The tower, like the palace, is part of the remains of the structure of the first half of the 13th century. There are 162 steps and the maximum diameter of the tower is 12 meters. The bell tower is located on the fourth floor, where four bells are installed at the top of the ceiling. The tower is a symbol for the city of Sesky Krumlov for its history and beauty. There are many amazing details that can be admired in the tower and in the palace. A wooden model of the construction can be seen inside it. The complex of the palaces is located around the fourth floor. Its construction was carried out from the middle of the 14th century to the 18th century. Despite the complex development of the construction, the palaces retain the Renaissance characteristics of its most flourishing period in the second half of the 16th century. The powerful bastions that are located near the entrance and that reach the second floor are part of the fortifications built in 1620. When the Thirty Years' War broke out, the imperial garrison led by Fernandino Carrati de Carrara fortified the castle. On the facade of the third floor we see paintings, works by the painter Gabriel de Blonde from around 1575, which represent allegories and mythological scenes and figures of Greek and Roman history. The basement under the fourth floor of Sesky Krumlov's castle occupies the entire patio area, as well as the upper halls of the castle. At present, this unequal area is under the sponsorship of the Czech Ceramic Design Agency and is used for the exhibition of works by national and foreign artists. A part of the exhibition is located in the halls of the church in the patio of the second castle. The Baroque gardens of the castle, founded in the 17th century, create a sense of integration and expand the complex of the castle. They are located at the top of the slopes adjacent to the complex around the fifth patio of Sesky Krumlov on the west side. Since its foundation at the end of the 17th century, the gardens of the castle have developed in a way that faithfully reflects the artistic periods they have gone through. The gardens were created according to the early Baroque compositional scheme and then displayed the spirit of the Viennese rococo in its form. The fountain of the waterfall is located on the slopes that divide the upper and lower gardens. The waterfall fountain, with statues of the deities of water, balustrade, vases and allegories of the four seasons, crowns the front of the upper garden. Since the end of the 18th century, the complicated rococo garden was gradually changed with classical arrangements. In the 19th century, the appearance of the garden was radically changed to the style of an English park. During the last three decades, the garden has undergone historical renovations and progressive restorations. During the reign of Wilhelm von Rosenberg, there was a system of covered bridges and corridors. The castle was connected to the Minorita Monastery and the Convent of the Order of Santa Clara. The complex of corridors mentioned under the roofs of Krumlov Castle and the ancient houses have been preserved almost entirely to this day. Zezky Krumlov is a town with a great cultural and historical heritage that has 300 protected buildings in its historical center. The second largest castle in the Czech Republic and the oldest baroque theater in the world, which have made it worthy of a place on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.