Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov
Crumlaw
Town
Flag
Coat of arms
Country Czech Republic
Region South Bohemian
District Český Krumlov
Commune Český Krumlov
River Vltava
Elevation 492 m (1,614 ft)
Coordinates CZ 48°49′N 14°19′E / 48.817°N 14.317°E / 48.817; 14.317Coordinates: CZ 48°49′N 14°19′E / 48.817°N 14.317°E / 48.817; 14.317
Area 22.16 km2 (8.56 sq mi)
Population 14,056 (2007-09-24)
Density 634 / km2 (1,642 / sq mi)
First mentioned 1253
Mayor Dalibor Carda
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 381 01
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Name Historic Centre of Český Krumlov
Year 1992 (#16)
Number 617
Region Europe and North America
Criteria iv
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Český Krumlov
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: www.ckrumlov.info

Český Krumlov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈtʃɛskiː ˈkrumlof]; German: Krummau an der Moldau or Böhmisch Krummau; Krumau; English: Crumlaw,[1][2] Bohemian Crumlaw), translated sometimes to Czech Crumlaw, is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic where Český Krumlov Castle is located. Old Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site[3] and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district.

The city is named Český Krumlov ("Bohemian Crumlaw") to differentiate it from Moravský Krumlov in South Moravia.

History

Construction of the town and castle began around 1240 by the Vítkovci at a ford in the Vltava River, at an important trade route in Bohemia. It was first mentioned in 1253 as Chrumbenowe. A legend says that the name derives from the German "Krumme Aue" which can be translated as "crooked meadow".

In 1302 the town and castle were acquired by the House of Rosenberg. The majority of inhabitants were German at that time. For 1336 it can be expected that Czechs were only a small minority, who had their own preacher.[4]

In late 15th century, when gold was found next to the town, German miners came to settle, which shifted the ethnic balance even more. In the parochial church the sermons were preached in Czech until 1788, when St. Jošt Church was abolished.[5]

Emperor Rudolf II bought Krumlov in 1602 and gave it to his natural son Julius d’Austria. Emperor Ferdinand II gave Krumlov to the House of Eggenberg and the town was seat of Duchy of Krumlov. From 1719 until 1945 the castle belonged to the House of Schwarzenberg. 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 core of the old town is within a horseshoe bend of the river, with the old Latrán neighborhood and castle on the other side of the Vltava.

8,662 inhabitants lived in Krummau an der Moldau in 1910, including 7,367 Germans and 1,295 Czechs.

After the First World War the city was part of the Bohemian Forest Region which declared to be part of German-Austria. By the end of 1918 the Czechoslovak army occupied the region. During the interwar era it was part of Czechoslovakia. In 1938 it was annexed by Nazi Germany, as part of the Sudetenland according to the Munich agreement. Between 1938 and 1945 it was part of the Reichsgau Oberdonau. After World War II the town's German-speaking population were expelled and it was returned to Czechoslovakia.[6]

During the Communist era of Czechoslovakia, Krumlov fell into disrepair, but since the Velvet Revolution of 1989 much of the town's former beauty has been restored, and it is now a major holiday destination popular with tourists from Germany, Austria and beyond, as far as China. In August, 2002, the town suffered from damage in the great flood of the Vltava River.

Sights

Castle

Krumlov Castle

Český Krumlov Castle is unusually large for a town of Krumlov's size; within the Czech Republic it is second in extent only to the Hradčany castle complex of Prague. Inside its grounds are a large rococo garden, an extensive bridge over a deep gap in the rock upon which the castle is built, and the castle itself, which in turn consists of many defined parts dating from different periods of time. After the garden was not adequately maintained during the second half of the 20th century, the site was included in the 1996 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund. With financial support from American Express the garden's central fountain was documented and reconstructed, and is functional today.[7]

Church of St. Vitus (Kostel Sv. Víta) is a Gothic church dating back to the 15th century with frescoes from the same period.

Castle Theatre

The stage of the castle theatre
The unique Revolving Theatre in Castle park

Český Krumlov Castle preserves its Baroque theatre, built from 1680–82 under Prince Johann Christian I von Eggenberg and renovated with modern (at the time) stage equipment under Josef Adam zu Schwarzenberg from 1765–66. With this original stage machinery, scenery and props it is among only a few such court theatres that still exist.[8] Due to its age, the theatre is only used three times a year (only two are open to the public), when a Baroque opera is performed in simulated candlelight. The castle's last private owner was Adolph Schwarzenberg. It was here that he received President Edvard Beneš and gave him a large contribution for the defence of Czechoslovakia against the growing threat of Nazi Germany. His property was seized by the Gestapo in 1940 and then confiscated by the Czechoslovak government in 1945.

Nearby

Krumlov has a museum dedicated to the painter Egon Schiele, who lived in the town.

About 10 kilometres (6 miles) from Krumlov is one of Bohemia's oldest monasteries, Zlatá Koruna ("The Golden Crown"). About 30 km (19 mi) from Krumlov is the Hluboka Castle, established in the twelfth century and later remodelled in imitation of Windsor Castle.

Krumlov is close to the Šumava National Park, the Czech Republic's largest national park. The Šumava mountains lie along the border with Austria and Germany and offer a range of natural habitats – peat bogs, Alpine meadows, old-growth forests, lakes, and rivers. The area is popular with walkers, cyclists, and canoeists on the Vltava. Cesky Krumlov is only a short distance from the man-made Lake Lipno, on which many people take boat trips to various small towns on the lake and also to the Dam, which is a Hydro-electric power plant.

Český Krumlov is home to Pivovar Eggenberg brewery. It has also been used as filming locations for movies such as the 2006 films The Illusionist and Hostel as well as the 1970s German movie Traumstadt (Dream City).

Culture

Český Krumlov hosts a number of festivals and other events each year including the Five-Petalled Rose Festival (the name is derived from the Rožmberk crest of a 5 petal red rose), which is celebrated on the weekend of summer solstice in June. The downtown area is recreated as a medieval town with craftsmen, artists, musicians, and local people dressed in costumes from the Middle Ages. Various activities such as jousting, fencing, historical dance performances, and folk theatre take place at the castle, local park, and the river bank, among other places. The festival is concluded by a fireworks show above the castle.

The International Music Festival Cesky Krumlov is one of the summer's cultural events. The Festival begins in July and ends in August, and features International music from varied musical genres.[9] In addition, various other festivals are sprouting up throughout the year. Summer music festivals in Cesky Krumlov also include the latest blues, rock, and soul festival Open Air Krumlov, which is held annually in late June at Eggenberg Brewery Garden in Cesky Krumlov.

Since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, over eighty restaurants have been established in the area. Many restaurants are located along the river and near the castle.

There is a museum dedicated to the semi-precious gemstone Moldavite in the city center.[10]

Transport

There is a railway station in Český Krumlov with connections in direction České Budějovice and Český Kříž with trains operated by České dráhy company. But connection is quite slow and there is no direct connection with capital city, Prague. Direct connection with Prague is possible only with bus lines, operated by Student Agency, ČSAD České Budějovice. Also M express with cooperation with LEO Express company are operating bus line LEO Express Easy, which is connecting Český Krumlov with the center of Prague.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Český Krumlov is twinned with:

People

Residents

See also

Gallery

Panorama from Castle gardens

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Český Krumlov.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Český Krumlov.
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