Český Krumlov is a city of 12,000 in the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It’s bisected by the Vltava River, and dominated by its 13th-century castle. The castle has Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements, a large garden and an original 17th-century baroque theater, and other unexpected features. The river provides an ideal setting and experience for paddling canoes or rafts right through the city. There are numerous shops, taverns, inns and restaurants spread throughout narrow cobbled old lanes that provide their high views of the surroundings in several spots.
We start the day with a town walking tour, after our hotel provided a hearty breakfast
We start the day with a town walking tour, after our hotel provided a hearty breakfast
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We've had so much sunny weather in this whole trip that many areas have been hurting for rain. Today, we cooperated and agreed to a bit of rain. The hotel provided us with a couple of umbrellas.
Patterns on this wall were made by scraping off the stucco coating to reveal the tan color. Several buildings around town had similarly done motifs.
St. Vitus Church is an important late-Gothic monument built from 1407 to 1438, with later modifications. In 1995 it was declared a National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic. We were treated to organ music in our stop.
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Gerri on the town square with the Plague Monument - they were so happy that half the population made it through that they built this monument to celebrate. Tim at the local Super-Dry clothing store checking out the 'skinny mirror". "My own clothes are so flattering for me, why should I shell out all those bucks for this pricey Super-Dry stuff".
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Boaters in the rain, still having fun, hmmmm, is Gerri getting an itch - "Rick Steves calls this activity a can't miss for Krumlov".
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Is the sky starting to brighten up?
Upward and onward to the "dominating" castle.
A trail marker with many choices according to your stamina. We see the castle watch tower - information is power.
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As we gradually go higher, we're treated to multiple courtyards.
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Twenty years ago the region had mucho raino - Prague was severely flooded, as well as Krumlov. See the pink house at lower left below, the high water line was just below the white horizontal decorative line.
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We've seen a good many castle interiors, so we more than satisfied to just see the outside of this one, and especially the grand views.
This castle, high on the hill, is huge - we've started at the castle tower, and it continues from right to left, and beyond.
Summer is entering it's last third now - just as back in the northern USA, some tree colors are already happening.
We finish our castle tour with the garden, over 27 acres worth.
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Here's the bonus treat, European brown bears eating salad.
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Heading back to the "ranch" (our lodging) - checking the weather, mulling over the possibility of hitting the river. Tim is thinking those weirs (the water slides bypassing the spillways) look awfully dicey.
The sky is showing blue now - the weirs stand there menacing as ever (that slot to the right of the spillway).
We're gonna do it - 7 kilometers, and 5 weirs, on an inflatable canoe.
The first weir is at this covered bridge. The people running the rental store said, the 3rd weir is a bit risky for a narrow inflatable, they suggested walking around if we're not sure about it. It had a strong pitch down at the end into a standing wave - with a chance of flipping the boat - oh boy.
It is a different, spectacular way to see such an old city.
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Success, we shot the rapids at the 3rd weir, without flopping it.
Historický pivovar Český Krumlov - the historic brewery Czech Krumlov.
At the last weir, with a great view of the castle above.
It's warming a bit nicely, look at all those blue skies.
It's all water, sky, red roofed houses and towers.
The river was flowing nicely with the rain since yesterday, we mostly just drifted along, passing the 7 kilometers in just under 2 1/2 hours. Here we finish and call for our pick-up.
The driver picked up us and the boat, and dropped us as close as he could to the city square. We take a few photos of previous sights, this time with blue skies.
Back at the "ranch" again, in front of our hotel "The Oldinn".
An hour later, and the skies are filling in again, getting ready for more rain.
We dine on beef stew, and grilled carp (believe it or not), as the skies outside unload a pelting rain.
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