On a recent visit to Prague, Susan and I took a bus ride three hours south to Cesky Krumlov. This small town situated in pastoral countryside along the Vitava River was originally settled in 1240 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Close to the Austrian border, it has fantastic Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of architecture evident in the castle, gardens, churches and old town. October was a delightful time to visit this most picturesque town as autumn colors were in full bloom.
Walking around the town is like being in a fairy tale, complete with the imposing castle on the hill with soaring tower. The small winding streets open to breathtaking vistas of the town and the river. Formal gardens above the castle lend perspective to how opulent this lifestyle might have been 700-years ago. A small restaurant above the castle seating no more than a dozen people was cooking over an open fire in the middle of the room. While charming and inviting the smoke was just too intense for us to consider dining, so much for reliving the 14th century lifestyle. On the other hand, sitting on a deck along the river with a castle view, enjoying traditional goulash and the local beer was fantastic.
Cesky Krumlov is a bit out of the way but worth visiting for the counterpoint it offers to the city of Prague. A step back in time quaint Cesky Krumlov offers a small-town European feel that is getting harder and harder to find.
All images were taken with Fuji X100s with 23mm f2.0 lens in RAW format, processed in Lightroom Classic 8.4.1