Jewels of Bohemia - May 23 - June 6, 2018
(Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary)
Part One, Czech Republic
Page Three, Cesky Krumlov area
We left Prague to travel to Cesky Krumlov, stopping at this memorial along the way.
Vojna Memorial - Vojna was originally built by German POWs after WWII as a
labor camp to work in nearby uranium mines. When Communists took over the
government in 1948, Vojna was transitioned into a notorious forced labor camp
for political prisoners.
Some of the buildings that remain. Where you see rectangular gravel areas are
locations where buildings formerly existed. Czech laborers had no protective clothing
and most died of exposure to uranium or breathing the gas byproducts.
Town of Pisek, founded in the 13th century, where we stopped for lunch.
The Stone Bridge in Pisek on the Otava River, the oldest bridge in the country,
built before the end of the 13th century.
In town of Cesky Krumlov, with its hilltop castle on the left and a church on the right.
The town was once a wealthy trading center and favorite of European nobility. It
was established in 1250 by the Lords of Krumlov. From the 14th through 16th
centuries, it was a major stop along a main trading route to Italy.
I accidentally walked into the church on the right when a service was
being held. There was only one person I saw attending the service, so I personally
saw evidence of how non-religious the Czech Republic is.
One of the winding, cobbled streets of this medieval town,
a World Heritage Site.
Main square -
Most of the architecture of the old town and castle dates
from the 14th through
17th centuries. The town's structures are mostly in Gothic,
Renaissance, and
Baroque styles. The heart of the old town is within a
horseshoe bend of the Vltava
River.
Red gabled roofs of Cesky Krumlov with the Cesky Krumlov Castle
tower looming
in the background.
The tour group in Cesky Krumlov. Of the 9 women on the tour, only
2 of us have a first name NOT starting with the letter "M,"
making
it harder to remember names. Two of the "Ms" were twins. See if you
can spot them in this picture. They are not standing together.
Another narrow cobblestoned street in Cesky Krumlov
Czech woman with her child
A courtyard area at Cesky Krumlov Castle, built in the 13th century by the powerful
Rosenberg family. The Castle contains 40 buildings and palaces, a large garden, and
a large bridge built over a deep gap in the rock upon which the castle was built.
There is a moat between the first and second courtyards of the Castle
where the Rosenberg family kept bears, a tradition that has been kept alive
by the
current operators.
Closeup of the Castle tower
View of Cesky Krumlov and Vltava River from the Castle
A medieval town gate in Cesky Krumlov
Near the town of Cesky Krumlov is Vyssi Brod Monastery, a Cistercian monastery
that goes back to the mid 13th century. Today only 5 monks live there.
Rozmberk Castle above Vltava River above small town of Rozmberk nad Vltavou in
the Czech Republic. One of the oldest castles in Bohemia. We ate lunch in the town.
Also near Cesky Krumlov is Lipno Lake and a winter ski area. The tour group walked
up a circular wooden walkway to gain views of the surrounding countryside. The
Alps in the distance could not be seen due to clouds and haze.
Young girl enjoying an ice cream cone at Lipno. We saw people eating ice cream
everywhere we went on the trip.
Link to Page Four - Slavonice, Czech Republic area
Pat's Home Page