Cesky Krumlov

One of the first sites in the Czech Republic to be listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov makes a popular day trip from Prague, located around 3 hours south of the capital. The town’s eponymous castle is the centerpiece of its historic center, a vast complex second only in size to Prague’s Hradčany Castle and including the 15th century Church of St Vitus and the 17th century Baroque Castle Theater.

Despite suffering a period of neglect during the bleak Communist period and more recently, battered by floods when the Vltava River burst its banks in 2002, the majestic beauty of Cesky Krumlov has proved irrepressible. Dating back to the late 13th century, the town showcases an impressive array of 14th – 17th century buildings, many painstakingly restored to their former glory and revealing a striking mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

Once you’ve explored the dramatic Rococo gardens and grounds of the Krumlov Castle and strolled the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, take a trip to the famous Pivovar Eggenberg Brewery or relax in one of the town’s many atmospheric cafés. Alternatively, head to the nearby Šumava National Park, the Czech Republic's largest national park; visit the Zlata Koruna, one of Bohemia's oldest monasteries; or time your visit for one of Cesky Krumlov’s many annual festivals like the Five-Petalled Rose Festival, a traditional medieval celebration of the summer solstice.