Tue 04.May.2010
Česky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Entry Level
old town with spires, seen from nearby hillonion-domed spire at end of colorful shopping street
It is a mile or so hike down the hill from the train station to the old town, and a bit of a climb again up to my hillside room above the other side of the old town. The trek made a great orientation walk through the heart of the maze of twisty passages.

Here is the first clear view I had of the old town, about half-way down from the station.

Actually, the main street winds, but is easy to follow. The twisty passages are the side streets.

cafe terrace perched on a rocky cliff over the (hidden) Moldau river Round castle, onion-spire church tower, teenage tourist girls
Old Krumlov occupies a near-island in a loop of the Vltava River. On the cliffs opposite perches a vast sprawling castle, with an almost playfully painted round tower on the lower level.

Classical music fans will know the Vltava by it's German name Moldau.

Below the tower the maze of the old town spills across the river, and curls around the castle walls. Beyond lies a brewery.

The round tower is a good navigation aid, as is St Vitus' church spire on the "loop" side of the river.

Crossing the bridge leading up to my neighborhood, you can see that no opportunity is lost here for  a colorful boutique cafe.

Grey bldg with elaborate s'grafitto trim colorful shopping street

grey and white painted building facadestwo multi-sided spires, one brick, one painted white with pink trim real estate office "Realitní Kancelář"
Reality Canceler. Not a bad word for a real estate office.

default alt texttown roofs through arch on high bridge whitewashed building with blue trim
Did anybody else go to Berkeley? If so, you'll notice that this view from the upper reaches of the castle looks a lot like Sather Gate.

There! That pointy spire down there is St.Vitus', the other reference point.

Moldau Hilton
Not only is this a whimsical name for an obviously modest pension, the color scheme suggests a Greek island. It looks funny in South Bohemia. Perhaps that is the point.


grey and white painted building facadestwo multi-sided spires, one brick, one painted white with pink trim real estate office "Realitní Kancelář"
That high bridge connects parts of the castle that sit on two adjacent hills.

This porch overlooking the river is smaller than it looks.

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