Chateau of Cesky Krumlov

Chateau of Cesky Krumlov is a part of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage and is one of the most important tourist attractions of Europe. Situated by the banks of the Vltava River, its 40 buildings and five courtyards constitute one of the largest castle complexes in Europe, holding dozens of Baroque and Renaissance gems, including the Cesky Krumlov Baroque theatre, which was built sometime in the 17th century.

A noteworthy feature of the chateau is the bear moat, which has real bears. Originally, it was a castle moat designed to protect the inner castle courtyard but was later converted into a decorative stone bridge. Since 1707, the bears were kept in the moat. Today, there are four bears in the Cesky Krumlov Chateau moat―Vok and Katerina―the original bear couple. They have two (now grown) cubs, Daxi and Hubert. The gorgeous golden interiors and striking repeating columns make the theatre particularly memorable. Do not forget to wander through the gorgeous castle ground, featuring a cascading fountain, or go up to the highest point and look out at the breathtaking view of the town of Cesky Krumlov laid out beneath your feet.