A medieval town where the castle moat is filled with bears
In short: Tucked into a bend of the Vltava River, Český Krumlov is a preserved masterpiece of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Beyond its UNESCO-protected streets, the town holds a curious tradition: a castle moat filled not with water, but with bears, a nod to a powerful Italian dynasty.
The town's history is deeply tied to the Vltava River and the Bohemian Forest Foothills. Its origins can be traced back to the Older Stone Age, with significant settlements appearing during the Bronze Age and Celtic presence in the Younger Iron Age. The first written mention of the town occurred in 1253 as Chrumbenowe, following the foundation of the castle by the Vítkovci family shortly before 1250.
The town's architectural identity was shaped by successive noble families. After the Vítkovci line became extinct in 1302, the estate passed to the Rosenberg family, who made it their primary residence. Under the Rosenbergs, the town reached peak prosperity in the 15th century. Later, the castle was sold to Emperor Rudolf II in 1602, and eventually passed to the Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg families.
One of the town's most striking features is the Český Krumlov Castle, one of the largest complexes in Central Europe. Spanning 7 hectares, it consists of 40 buildings and five courts. A unique feature of the castle is its moat, which contains bears—a symbolic gesture intended to link the rulers to the Italian Orsini family, whose name is a pun on the word for bear, 'orso'.
Today, the town is a major tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a status it has held since 1992. It is also a cultural hub, hosting the annual International Music Festival and the Five-Petalled Rose Festival, which celebrates the Rosenberg family crest through medieval-themed festivities.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Český Krumlov
- Also: Wikidata — Český Krumlov · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Český Krumlov · CC0
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