Český Krumlov Castle is a castle located in the city of Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic. It dates back to 1240 when the first castle was built by the Vítkovci family, the main branch of the powerful Bohemian family Rosenberg. Currently the castle is listed as a national heritage site and thus serves as a major tourist attraction. It is the second most visited castle in the Czech Republic, after Prague Castle.
History
By the 17th century the Rosenbergs had died out, and Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand II gave the dominion of Krumau to Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, naming him Duke of Krumau. After the death of Hans Ulrich's son, Johann Anton I von Eggenberg, the castle was administered for the period between 1649 and 1664 by his widow, Anna Maria. One of her two sons, Johann Christian I von Eggenberg, was responsible for the Baroque renovations and expansions to the castle, including the castle theatre now called the Eggenberg Theatre. When the male line of the Eggenbergs died out in 1717, the castle and duchy passed into the possession of the Schwarzenbergs. In 1947, the Schwarzenberg property, including Český Krumlov, was transferred to the Czech provincial properties and in 1950 it became the property of the Czechoslovak State. The entire area was declared a national monument in 1989 and in 1992 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Points of Interest
The castle stands on a steep and long rocky headland, which is lined with Vltavafrom the south. The bridge over the Bear Moat leads through the passage to the Lower Castle, on the left side is the oldest part of the castle, an old palace with a tower from the 13th century and paintings from 1580. From the tower is a beautiful view of the castle and the city. The eastern and northern wing of the irregular large courtyard of the Lower Castle consists of a burgrave's house from 1578. In the middle of the courtyard is a stone fountain from 1641. Across another moat a brick bridge leads to the Upper Castle, the Rosenberg Palace. The unique five-story Cloak Bridge over a deep carved moat from 1764 connects Upper Castle with the castle theater building and gardens. The Český Krumlov Baroque Theatre from 1766–1767 is one of the best preserved Baroque theaters in the world. It is comparable in Europe with only a few theaters, such as the Swedish Royal Palace in Drottningholm, the Queen's Theater in Versailles and the Baroque Theater in Bayreuth, whereas the Český Krumlov theater is the best preserved of them in its original form. To the west are the castle gardens in the late baroque style with a cascade fountain from the middle of the 18th century. In the gardens is since 1959 located the revolving auditorium. The White Lady supposedly used to appear at the Český Krumlov Castle. It is said that it is the ghost of Perchta of Rožmberk, her mysterious image hangs on the wall in the castle.
