Český Krumlov: top attractions & road trip guide
Český Krumlov is a small town in South Bohemia built around a dramatic bend of the Vltava River, with a castle complex second in size only to Prague Castle among Czech castles. Its winding cobblestone lanes, pastel Renaissance and Baroque buildings, and near-total lack of modern intrusion earned the entire historic center UNESCO World Heritage status in 1992.
The town is a well-known stop on Bohemian road trip routes, roughly two and a half hours south of Prague and close to the Austrian border, making it a natural link between Czech and Austrian itineraries. The surrounding region is hilly and forested, and the river itself is popular for canoeing and rafting past the town's rooftops.
Top attractions
Český Krumlov Castle
A sprawling castle and chateau complex of 40 buildings dating from the 13th century onward, featuring a distinctive round tower and a Baroque theater with original 18th-century stage machinery still intact.
Cloak Bridge (Plášťový most)
A three-tiered stone viaduct linking the upper castle to the Baroque theater and garden, offering panoramic views over the town's red rooftops from its upper walkway.
Egon Schiele Art Centrum
A museum in a former brewery dedicated to the Austrian Expressionist painter Egon Schiele, whose mother was born in the town and who lived here briefly in 1911.
St. Vitus Church
A 14th-century Gothic parish church with a distinctive net-vaulted ceiling, standing on high ground above the Vltava with views across the old town and castle.
Castle Gardens (Zámecká zahrada)
A large Baroque garden behind the castle with a revolving open-air theater, fountains, and formal parterres, laid out in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Plan your route with EuroDrive Scout →