Cesky Krumlov Castle
Founded in the first half of the 13th century by the Lords of Krumlov, the Cesky Krumlov castle was originally built in the Gothic style. In the second half of the 16th century, under the reign of the Rosenberg family, it received the appearance of a beautiful Renaissance residence. Upon entering the Red Gate to the castle precinct, you find the building of the Old Pharmacy, passing into the former stables, today the Column Hall, adjacent to other picturesque medieval buildings such as the Gothic original Salt House. This precinct is an urban organization formerly inhabited by the guilds: there was a smithy, a brewery, a dairy, a hospital. Among the very characteristic medieval buildings there is a park with a 16th century fountain.
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A stone bridge guarded by sculptures of Virgin Mary and St. Joseph and decorated with the Schwarzenberg coat of arms leads over the castle moat, where bears used to be bred, to the second courtyard and the Lower Castle, the oldest castle part. Originally built in Gothic style, the splendid building showcases a facade with illusively painted architecture and a round tower decorated with rich Renaissance features such as an archway gallery and clerestory windows, as well as a lanolin spire, dominating the slope towards the Vltava River.
The building of the New Burgrave's House is features Renaissance mural paintings, vaults and a truss and houses the Castle Library.
The second castle courtyard features another stone fountain.
The massive and complex Upper Castle, in the third Castle Courtyard, displays Renaissance paintings of mythological scenes of Greek and Roman history, by court painter Gabriel de Blonde. Located behind the Upper Castle, the labyrinth of Wenceslas' cellars constitutes an exhibition of Czech Ceramic Design.
The bold and grandiose Cloak Bridge is a structure of 3 stories resting on 4 stories of powerful archways. It leads to the Renaissance House, the winter Riding Hall and the Castle Theater. The latter is the best preserved Baroque stage in the world, with the theatre building, auditorium, stage, orchestra pit, as well as stage technology and machinery, librettos, coulisses and costumes.
Also remarkable are the Castle wine cellars, the main of which has been partly transformed in a lapidarium, housing the original statues of the Cloak Bridge and the Castle Gardens for restoration.
The Cesky Krumlov Castle Gardens extend over different levels, being dominated by the central Cascade Fountain, decorated with figures of water deities and allegories of the four seasons. In this garden, there is the beautiful rococo Summer Manor Bellarie, featuring a shingle roof with copper vases, oval windows, plastic facade with a cavetto window sill, pink plaster ribbon work and scroll motifs. Dominating the facade is a splendid double winded staircase with forged railing. There is an upper rectangular terrace supported by pilasters.
Opposite the Summer House, visitors pass the Revolving Auditorium and a picturesque lake.
There is a 17th Baroque Garden with splendid mosaics of colorful flower beds and august trees.
