Krumau: Castle, Culture and the Vltava

If you are looking for a hotel in Krumau, you can plan your trip around the themes you want to shape your stay: medieval architecture, museums and artists’ history, or the Vltava as a setting for water activities. Krumau’s historic centre lies on the Vltava and was built around a 13th-century castle. It preserves an exceptionally well-preserved medieval architectural heritage spanning more than five centuries of uninterrupted development. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements are all part of it. This brings together different periods, specific collections and opportunities to view the town from the water.

Castle and Architectural History

The Český Krumlov castle complex includes a castle museum and a collection of carriages and sledges in the stables. Two other buildings make their own architectural mark: St. Vitus Church is an important Late Gothic building dating from 1407 to 1439, with later alterations. The Český Krumlov Synagogue was built in 1909 by the local Jewish community. Its octagonal tower and restrained Neo-Romanesque elements give it a distinctive architectural character. Today, the synagogue is used as a meeting place and as a multifunctional cultural, artistic and social space; the specific programme may vary. Classical music concerts are occasionally held in St. Vitus Church.

Museums, Studio and Exhibitions

Photography takes centre stage at the Fotoateliér Seidel: the museum displays historical photographs, glass negatives and cameras, as well as the fittings of a darkroom. Themed photographic sessions in the historic studio are offered regularly. The Regional Museum complements this photographic perspective with a detailed ceramic model of the historic town centre and the preserved interior of a Baroque Jesuit pharmacy. At the Egon Schiele Atelier, visitors can enter the room where Egon Schiele lived and worked in 1911. Port 1560 offers a different approach to cultural interpretation: the comprehensively reconstructed former manor brewery features four exhibitions on life, work, art and dreams. This sets apart a specific artists’ space connected with 1911 from the thematic breadth of the four exhibitions.

The Vltava and Views

On the Vltava, the “Krumlovem na lodi” activity offers a different perspective: canoe or raft trips of around two hours take visitors through Český Krumlov. They pass several weirs, including one directly below the castle, and offer views of the historic district from the river. The approximate duration makes it easy to plan this activity as a separate part of your itinerary. In Krumau, you can rent boats, rafts, bicycles, scooters and e-bikes, as well as complete water sports and cycling equipment. Rental providers recommend excursion routes, arrange transport for equipment and people, and offer trips with instructors or guides. For a viewpoint away from the river, the pilgrimage complex on Křížová hora offers panoramic views with telescopes and particularly beautiful vistas of Krumau and the Bohemian Forest.

These perspectives differ considerably when planning your trip: on the Vltava, the focus is on a roughly two-hour canoe or raft trip; Křížová hora, by contrast, offers panoramic views through telescopes over Krumau and the Bohemian Forest.

Discover more destinations: Meinetschlag, Deutsch Beneschau, Bessenitz, Friedberg, Angern, Höritz, Tritesch, Chunzen

Go to the broader travel overview: Okres Český Krumlov.