Český Krumlov, Medieval municipality in South Bohemia, Czech Republic.
Český Krumlov is a town in South Bohemia on the banks of the Vltava, its core nestled in a river loop and surrounded by hills. Streets and squares are paved with stone blocks, while multistorey buildings with Baroque and Renaissance details line up along the lanes.
The settlement grew from the mid 13th century under the Vítkovci family, who built a fortified residence here. In the 16th century the place passed to the Rosenberg lords, who renewed buildings and added new churches and townhouses.
Street names recall the trades and guilds that once worked here, and many facades carry painted decorations from earlier centuries. Residents follow preservation rules that keep the windows, doors and colors close to their original appearance.
Most lanes are easy to walk, though slopes and uneven cobblestones can be slippery when wet. During summer months the main routes fill with visitors by mid morning, while side areas remain quieter.
On the outer wall of a chapel near the castle garden, scratches left by bears kept here for centuries are still visible. Descendants of these animals still live in the castle moat, and visitors can watch them from bridges overhead.
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