Basic Facts about Český Krumlov
Occupying a tight meander in the Vltava River, with a fairy tale castle on the looming cliffs above, Cesky Krumlov is one of the most beautiful, dramatic, and well presevered medieval towns in all of Europe. No surprise that it is one of the most visited towns in Czech Republic. There are several possibilities for accommodation in Cesky Krumlov, everyone can find a suitable hotel or pension
The name comes from “Krumme Aue”, meaning crooked meadow. The “Cesky” part of the name distinguishes the town from the Moravian Krumlov. Locally, most people just call it Krumlov.
In prehistory, early humans inhabited this place. Its natural defences and strategic position on the river transit routes made it the home of countless generations of powerful and wealthy local nobles. Today, this gem is rapidly gentrifying. Almost the entire historic center is now devoted to serving visitors.
Not long ago the town was in decay. It’s predominantly German inhabitants were forcibly evicted after WWII, and many houses were looted and then left vacant. Others were taken over by gypsies and settlers from elsewhere in Czechoslovakia. Unemployment was high, and the large paper mill upstream, while providing some jobs, also polluted the river.
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After the 1989 revolution, investors and entrepreneurs returned, transforming Cesky Krumlov to the point that it is now one of the leading attractions in the Czech Republic. Some now fret that it has become a victim of its own success, becoming congested with crowds of foreign tourists through the summer.
