Relaxing in Southern Bohemia

I have four days in Český Krumlov - a town on the southern Czech border. It is a UNESCO protected town, being in a reasonably untouched state. It is a beatiful town with not too many tourists visiting each day - and most of those who do, visit for a day trip from Prague and so by about 4 pm the town becomes very quiet.

The view from where I do my blog (St Vitus Church)

There's lots to do for the adventurously minded - horse riding, mountain bike riding (it's in a valley, so hills everywhere), rafting and hiking. Needless to say, I have done none of these things.

The Castle (built in the side of the river bank cliff top)

The town dates from the late late 13th century at a ford in the Vltava River (the same river that flows through Prague), which was important in trade routes in Bohemia. Most of the architecture of the old town and castle dates from the 14th through 17th centuries; the town's structures are mostly in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. The core of the old town is within a horseshoe bend of the river, with the castle on the other side of the Vltava.

The Castle on the left with the Vlatava River, and the town on the right.

The town became part of the Austrian Empire in the early 19th Century and during the Second World War was occupied by German-speaking people as the Nazis annexation of the Sudetenland. After the war it was restored to Czechoslovakia.

Part of the Castle, separating the Main Hall and the Gardens

The Castle has a bear moat, with a real bear in it!

One of the four 15th Century Bells in the Bell Tower

Southern Bohemian dishes mainly revolve around parts of the pig, with roast pork, pork neck and pork knees being traditional fare. Although I did see "Bear Paw with potatoes and garnish" on one menu, but was too afraid to ask...

PostScript: I made inquiries about the bear paw dish and it turns out it is not a bear paw after-all. Apparently its beef - must be for the tourists. Luckily for the poor bear in the bear moat - otherwise, after the fourth dish...

The castle at night