Suggested Trips For Cesky Krumlov and Surroundings
1st day - Meandering through the narrow streets, admiring the restored buildings, and walking along the riverbank with the Castle in the background are the "must see" parts of Cesky Krumlov. Although everyone should walk through the exterior Castle courtyards and across the unique Cloak Bridge http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_5nadvori_plmost.xml to the Castle Gardens for great views of the River and town below, many tourists are not that impressed with the interior of this Castle which is the second largest one in the Czech Republic. If you enjoy unique wall paintings be sure to take the Castle Tour #1 (see link at www.ckrumlov.cz/uk/zamek/oinf/t_prohli.htm) that visits the Masquerade Hall (see link at www.ckrumlov.cz/uk/zamek/3nadvori/t_maskar.htm). The walls are covered with paintings in which the people seem to step out of the pictures into the room. The interior of the Castle is open from the first day of April until the last day of October; recently they have begun opening part of the last week of March and some of the Christmas holidays so email them for details if you visit during that time. The interior of the Castle is closed on Monday unless Monday is a "state" holiday; in that case it is open on Monday but closed the next day instead. (As of this writing the Castle opens at 9:00 am but closes at 5:00 pm in April, May, September, and October; in June, July, and August it closes at 6:00 pm. The last Castle tour of the day begins one hour BEFORE these closing times). Music and architecture admirers can visit the well preserved, functioning Baroque Theater, one of only a few still in existence. For a guided tour of the old town, stop by the Infocentrum in the main square. The Infocentrum also sells tickets to the various musical groups that will be performing during your visit. Be sure to sample the local cuisine; with over eighty restaurants to choose from, many along the river where you can also watch the canoes/rafts, you are bound to find something appealing. Note that occasional special events can change the opening hours on short notice so you may want to telephone the Castle, museum, etc. a day in advance for any updates.
2nd day – Take a half day trip to Hluboka Castle (see link at www.zamekhluboka.cz) about thirty kilometers north of Cesky Krumlov. Although begun in the 12th century, it was renovated over the years and now looks like Windsor Castle. In many towns the tours in Czech are cheaper and more frequent than the ones in English. You will soon forget the names and dates anyway, right? Great architecture and stunning interiors look the same in any language. By bus, Hluboka takes about one hour from Cesky Krumlov, usually with no more than a single transfer in Ceske Budejovice. Be sure you take the bus that stops near Hluboka Castle. The Hluboka train station, like the train station in Cesky Krumlov, is far from its Castle. As of this writing, all of the "Hluboka n. Vlt." buses leaving from platforms #13 and #14 at the main Ceske Budejovice bus station http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/info/C2/S4842.HTM go to the Hluboka Castle's closest bus stop titled "Hluboká n.Vlt.,,pod kostelem MHD." Most of the buses that leave from platform #19 and some of the buses that leave from platform #15 do NOT go to this "Castle" bus stop. From the map at http://www.vachaasyn.cz/image/mapa1.jpg note that the Castle is very close to the center of the old town "as the crow flies." However because the Castle is near the top of a steep hill, the walk from its closest bus stop (just south of the church on the main road shown in yellow) is about 500 meters since the road makes several turns. When you decide on your schedule at jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/ , click the numbers to the right side of the bus icon to obtain the list of each stop the bus makes. Carry this detailed schedule with you so you can monitor the stops; although "local" Czech buses are usually on time, long distance "public" buses can be late when traffic is heavy. Insert the exact date of your travel into the website since the buses run less frequently on weekends and holidays. Don´t be afraid to ask questions about the bus/train schedules since even well educated Czechs have problems interpreting them! On the return to Cesky Krumlov see the town square of Ceske Budejovice (on one of Europe´s largest town squares, the 72 meter high bell tower of St. Nicholas´ church has a magnificent view) and visit the ORIGINAL Budweiser Brewery for tours and tastings, if you are not driving. It is illegal to drive with any alcohol in your bloodstream in the Czech Republic. The brewery gives tours for groups, not individua1s; the easiest solution, if you are interested, is to sign up for the brewery tour in one of the large hotels on the town square. Ceske Budejovice has other museums plus even a planetarium.
3rd day – Make a day trip to Traunkirchen (has a pilgrimage church with a famous silver and gold pulpit shaped like a boat) and the UNESCO town of Hallstatt (to see its lake from two perspectives, take the cable car ride and also the boat trip to the train station and back). Rick Steves calls Hallstatt his "Alpine Oz." Both of these are stunning, mountain lake towns south of Linz and east of Salzburg – if you have never seen Traunkirchen and Hallstatt before, don´t miss this opportunity. Until the Czech Republic starts using the Euro, change some Czech crowns to Euros for the trip (ATM machines and banks usually give better rates than other currency changers). If you are driving, be sure your vehicle has a permit to use the Autobahn. Public bus or train transportation between Cesky Krumlov and Linz is still cumbersome and lengthy. There are private companies such as Lobobus that go between Cesky Krumlov and the Linz train station for 450 CZK (price as of this writing). Although most of the scheduled trips by Lobobus are mid day, they make earlier trips for groups. To make the return journey easier, arrange for such companies to pick you up at the Linz train station for the trip back to Cesky Krumlov. From Linz there are easy and frequent train connections to the lake towns. According to the 2005 summer schedule, if you left the Linz train station at 8:33 a.m., you would arrive in the Ha1lstatt train station at 10:27 a.m.(the town of Hallstatt is a short, inexpensive ferry ride across the lake from the Hallstatt train station; since the mountain scenery is so beautiful here, this ride is a delightful bonus to your visit). If you left the Linz train station at 10:33 a.m., you would arrive in the Ha1lstatt train station at 12:27 p.m. The second half of the journey goes next to a mountain lake with great scenery - have your camera ready. The above website or www.bahn.de with an English option has the train schedules. If you are with a group, an easy way to make the trip is to use Mike’s Chauffeur service at www.mike-chauffeur.cz. For 5,500 CZK with a 3% discount to Castle View Apartments’ clients, they will drive your group to Traunkirchen for a one hour stop to see the famous church and lake, continue on to Hallstatt for a three or four hour visit, the arrive back in Cesky Krumlov about 5:30 p.m.
4th day - Architectural and religious history enthusiasts will enjoy the Kajov Pilgrimage Church four kilometers out of town. Since its origin in the second half of the thirteenth century, it has been greatly enlarged and is still used by Czechs, Austrians, and Germans as a pilgrimage site; the largest pilgrimage is usually the second Sunday in October. About 30 kilometers south of town is the famous Vyssi Brod Monastery (see link with panoramic videoseqences of the interiors). In the afternoon visit more of Cesky Krumlov´ s museums and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts can rent a canoe or join a raft trip on the river. Others will enjoy sightseeing with a bicycle, walking the many marked hiking trai1s through the area, or going horseback riding. To the south, Lipno Lake has windsurfing, catamaran rentals, swimming, and fishing. During winter there is skiing available on the nearby Sumava Mountains.
5th day – Mike’s Chauffeur Service has an all day trip to Salzburg for 6,500 CZK with a 3% discount to Castle View Apartments’ clients. Your group would leave Cesky Krumlov about 7:00 a.m. and arrive at the Salzburg city center about 9:30 a.m. (the main Salzburg bus station is in front of the train station). They would pick you up about 5:00 p.m. and arrive back in Cesky Krumlov about 7:30 p.m. Their day trip to Vienna costs 6,500 CZK with a 3% discount for Castle View Apartments’ clients. They can drop you off at St. Stephen’s cathedral in the center of the old town. For a 500 CZK surcharge they will drive clients from one sight to another. Although such major sites as the Hofburg, Kunsthistorisches Museum (a must see), Opera, tram ride around the Ring to see impressive architecture, etc. are within easy walking distance from St. Stephen’s, if you want to visit such sites as Schonnbrunn Palace, Belvedere, Klosterneuburg, etc. , a car would be useful. In Salzburg and Vienna they can arrange a three hour walking tour with a local guide for 118 Euros.
Additional Options
1. To the South
Mike‘s Chauffer Service (see link at www.mike-chauffeur.cz) offers regional day trips. As of this writing the trip to the south begins at 9:00 am from the Main Square of Cesky Krumlov in front of the Infocentrum (just a few steps from Castle View Apartments). Within 30 minutes you will be at Rozmberk Castle (see link at www.ckrumlov.cz/uk/region/histor/i_hraroz.htm with panoramic videosequences). The admission price depends upon what parts of the Castle you want to tour. Afterwards there will be a fifteen minute drive to the Vyssi Brod Monastery (see link at www.ckrumlov.cz/uk/region/histor/t_klasvb.htm with panoramic videosequences). You will be on your own for lunch in Vyssi Brod, but the driver will make suggestions based upon your preferences. After lunch there will be a short drive to the famous Certova Stena or „Devil’s Wall”; (see link at www.jiznicechy.org/cz/index.php?path=prir/certovka.htm), one of the most visited rock formations in the Czech Republic. Legend has it that the Devil was so upset with the nearby Monastery that he tried to build a dam with boulders to block the river to flood the buildings. As fate would have it, he was not able to finish. Nearby is the 30 meter high rock formation called the „Devil’s pulpit.“ From here is a panoramic view of the valley. For those with strong legs and strong lungs, there is an optional visit to the castle ruins and watchtower of Vitkuv Hradek near Lipno Lake (see link at www.ckrumlov.cz/cz1250/region/histor/o_vithra.htm). After your visit, you will be returned to Cesky Krumlov‘s Main Square. The price for an air conditioned car that seats up to 4 passengers is 2,400 CZK. You will have an English speaking driver; entrance fees are not included since the price would depend on exactly what buildings you want to tour. Your cost for transportation will depend upon the size of the group that day, ie., the larger the group and vehicle used, the lower the price per passenger. (A minibus that seats 8 pasengers is also available at a slightly higher total vehicle price).
2. To the North
Mike's Chauffeur Service (see link at www.mike-chauffeur.cz) has a trip to the north starting at 9:00 am from the Main Square of Cesky Krumlov in front of the Infocentrum (just a few steps from Castle View Apartments). In less than one hour you will be at Hluboka Castle (see link at www.zamekhluboka.cz) which looks like Windsor Castle in Britain. The interior rooms are VERY impressive; as the saying goes, it is the way God would have constructed it if He had had the money! The admission price varies according to the tour you want to take. A drive through the well preserved UNESCO village of Holasovice (see link at www.holasovice.cz) is included as well as a stop in the town of Prachatice (see link at www.prachatice.cz/n_pamatky_en.html). Next is a drive to Ceske Budejovice’s famous Budvar Brewery (see link at www.budvar.cz) in the northeast part of town. After your tour (the price depends upon the language you want for the tour, whether or not you have a student ID, etc.) you will be taken to the very large Main Square of Ceske Budejovice. The driver will make suggestions for your lunch (on your own) depending upon your preferences. Those who eat a light lunch may consider climbing to the top of the nearby Black Tower for a splendid view. Considering that it was built in the 16th century, its height of 72 meters was a remarkable feat for its day. Some locals say that they can see the Alps in Austria clearly on a sunny day; however they must have eagles in their family tree (pardon the pun). After your visit to Ceske Budejovice, you will be returned to the main square in Cesky Krumlov. The price for an air conditioned car for up to four passengers is 2,500 CZK with an English speaking driver. Entrance fees are not included; a minibus that seats up to 8 passengers is also available at a slightly higher price. Your cost of transportation will depend on the number of people who take the tour that day; ie., the larger the vehicle used, the lower the price per person.
2009 Update
"Sebastian Tours and Transport" (phone +420 608 357 581 or +420 607 100 234) at http://www.sebastianck-tours.com/shuttle.html has recently started regional day trips for 599 CZK per person, not including lunch and Castle admission. Their website adds, "We organize day trips to all of South Bohemia. (Divci Kamen, Hluboka, Holasovice, Ceske Budejovice, Klet, Lipno, Certova stena, Svaty Tomas, Vyssi Brod, Rozmberk nad Vltavou.....), or we will design a special trip according to your wishes. Every client receives place descriptions + detailed maps. Our minibus will pick you up from your hotel at 9:00 am and bring you back to Cesky Krumlov around 5:00 pm." LOOP 1 - DIVCI KAMEN (3km walk past visible remnants of Celtic settlements and ruins of a medieval castle), HOLASOVICE (UNESCO world heritage site), CESKE BUDEJOVICE (visit to the historic center of the town, 3D exposition in the BUDWEISER brewery), HLUBOKA(little town with a beautiful castle; one of the most visited places in the Czech Republic). LOOP 2 - KLET - 1084 m (hike or with a chairlift up the highest peak of Blansky forest on one of the oldest stone watchtowers in Czech Republic), HOLASOVICE (UNESCO world heritage site), CESKE BUDEJOVICE(visit to the historic center of the town, 3D exposition in the BUDWEISER brewery), HLUBOKA (little town with a beautiful castle; one of the most visited places in the Czech Republic). LOOP 3 -VITKUV HRADEK (ruins of a medieval castle-fortress, short walk up the watchtower with beautiful views), DEVIL´S WALL (protected natural reserve), VYSSI BROD (visit the gothic monastery), ROZMBERK nad VLTAVOU (riverside village with an impressive castle above the river Vltava; optional castle visit).