Český Krumlov Castle: A Historic Medieval Fortress in the Czech Republic

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.zamek-ceskykrumlov.cz

Country: Czechia

Civilization: Early Modern, Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Český Krumlov Castle is located in the town of Český Krumlov, within the modern Czech Republic. It was constructed by the noble Vítkovci family in the early 13th century, marking the beginning of a fortress that would evolve into one of the country’s significant medieval strongholds.

The earliest reliable record of the castle dates to April 1, 1253, associating the site with Vítek of Krumlov, a member of the founding Vítkovci lineage. The castle’s foundation is attributed either to Vítek I, his father Záviš of Nechanice, or Vítek II the Elder, reflecting the family’s gradual expansion of territorial control in the region. Following the extinction of the Krumlov branch of the Vítkovci family in 1302, ownership passed to Jindřich I of Rožmberk. Under his direction, the Lower Castle saw significant enlargement, laying the groundwork for future developments.

During the early 14th century, Jindřich’s son, Petr I of Rožmberk, initiated the construction of the Upper Castle, which was subsequently rebuilt by Oldřich II of Rožmberk in the 15th century. These phases introduced new defensive and residential elements, reflecting the castle’s growing importance as both a fortress and noble residence.

In the 16th century, Vilém of Rožmberk undertook major building projects that further transformed the complex. Nevertheless, financial difficulties led Petr Vok, the last of the Rožmberk owners, to sell Český Krumlov Castle to Emperor Rudolf II. Rudolf II then gifted the property to his illegitimate son, Julius Caesar (also known as Juan d’Austria), linking the castle to imperial ties.

In 1622, Emperor Ferdinand II granted the estate to the Eggenberg family. The Eggenbergs enhanced the castle’s appearance through Baroque renovations and introduced the first wooden theater around 1680, along with cultivated gardens, marking a period of cultural as well as architectural enrichment.

From 1719 until 1947, the Schwarzenberg family held ownership. They remodeled the castle in the late 18th century according to the Viennese Baroque style, reflecting contemporary tastes. However, after moving their principal residence to Hluboká following 1871, the castle’s significance diminished within the family’s holdings.

By the late 20th century, Český Krumlov Castle received official national protection as a cultural monument in 1989 and was internationally recognized when it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. It remains an important historical legacy within the Czech Republic.

Remains

Český Krumlov Castle occupies a steep and elongated rocky plateau bordered by the waters of the Vltava River to the south and the Polečnice stream to the north. Its layout developed over centuries into a vast complex covering more than six hectares, making it the second largest castle area in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle.

The earliest core of the castle was a fortress typical of the 13th century, featuring a rectangular palace and a substantial round bergfried tower—an unstaffed defensive tower typical in medieval fortifications—measuring 11.6 meters in diameter. Surrounded by protective walls, this initial construction presented a solid and compact military stronghold. Among the oldest datable architectural details is a late Gothic window frame from the mid-15th century, preserving a glimpse of early stylistic elements.

The Upper Castle, developed in the early 1300s by Petr of Rožmberk, is positioned atop a narrow rocky ridge and guarded by two square towers, one to the east and one to the west, protecting the main entrance. The main western palace adjoins an adjacent tower, while a castle chapel with a star-vaulted sacristy and decorative tracery windows, added in the 15th century, illustrates the blend of religious and residential functions.

At the transition between the 15th and 16th centuries, a new courtyard was formed on the west side of the Upper Castle. This courtyard is enclosed by palace wings on three sides, planted over what was once a moat, resulting in three levels of cellars below. The western palace in this area features a passageway and spacious halls with projecting window bays known as oriels. This section was constructed without traditional military fortifications but had thick defensive walls up to five meters wide and remnants of a bastion or tower on the side facing emerging threats.

The Lower Castle is accessed from various routes, including the Latrán quarter, the south via Castle Stairs, or the east through the Red Gate. Along its north side stands a rectangular salt house dated around 1500, indicative of storage functions important to the castle’s economy. To the south, Renaissance stables served the castle’s horses and transport needs. Central to the Lower Castle courtyard is a stone fountain carved in 1561, offering a water source within the fortifications. A bridge spanning the Bear Moat leads into the Lower Castle, where the oldest surviving element known as the “Hrádek” contains a 13th-century palace topped by a Renaissance-era superstructure decorated with paintings created around 1580.

Distinct wings surround the Lower Castle courtyard: the eastern and northern wings belong to the Burgrave’s residence, erected in 1578; the southern section is called the Mint Court, suggestive of minting or administrative functions. The Gothic Máselnice tower, standing at the western corner, adds to the perimeter defenses. Facades throughout this area are adorned with Renaissance-style paintings and sgraffito decorations (a technique involving layers of plaster contrasting to create designs). In the courtyard center, a stone fountain from 1641 complements the aesthetic and practical layout.

Connecting the Lower and Upper Castle is a brick bridge over a secondary moat, facilitating movement within the complex’s different levels. The Upper Castle contains the Rožmberk Palace with two small inner courtyards. The east wing’s first floor houses the Rožmberk Rooms, featuring preserved Renaissance wooden ceilings, remnants of decorative paintings, and an extensive collection of Flemish tapestries from the 16th and 17th centuries, crafted in Brussels. These tapestries serve as testament to the castle’s cultural connections and the wealth of its former owners.

The castle chapel of St. George, founded in the early 14th century in Gothic style, was later remodeled during the Baroque period. Accessible from the third courtyard via stairs leading from the entrance hall, the chapel’s walls are covered with artificial marble finishes characteristic of the era. A statue of St. George above the main altar was carved by Jan Antonín Zinner, and underneath the altar painting rests a shrine holding relics of St. Calixtus, linking the chapel to religious history and veneration practices.

The smaller Rožmberk Chapel, constructed between 1430 and 1440 and located on the south side, is notable for its Gothic net vaulting, a complex ribbed ceiling design signifying the castle’s medieval craftsmanship.

The spacious Masquerade Hall, situated within the west wing, features a wooden gallery overlooking the space and illusionistic paintings by Josef Lederer dating to 1748. These wall paintings depict 135 life-sized figures attending a masked ball, including characters inspired by the Italian Commedia dell’arte. Today, the hall continues to serve social and musical functions, preserving its cultural legacy.

The Eggenberg Hall houses a ceremonial golden coach carved in 1638 by Roman artist Giuseppe Fiochini. Covered with gold leaf, the coach measures approximately 3 meters high, 2 meters wide, and nearly 5.6 meters long. It was used once during a notable occasion to transport gifts from Emperor Ferdinand III to Pope Urban VIII. The room’s interior upholstery features black velvet embroidered with gold thread, and yellow gold-embroidered curtains frame the space. Costumes worn by the coach’s escort and portraits of the Eggenberg family decorate the hall’s walls, enhancing the historic atmosphere.

Inside the castle, Renaissance halls display original pewter tableware and welcoming goblets, while a Baroque dining room contains a 17th-century Brussels tapestry cycle depicting the biblical story of Judith and Holofernes. The Baldachin Salon is adorned with red textile wallpapers, Venetian mirrors framed in gilded wood, and Oriental objects that reflect the 18th-century Rococo era’s taste for exotic decoration.

One of the castle’s architectural highlights is the five-story Cloak Bridge, built in 1764. This unique structure spans a deeply carved moat and links the Upper Castle with the castle theater and surrounding gardens. The top two floors of this bridge are covered corridors providing sheltered passage between the palace and other components of the complex.

The Baroque theater, erected between 1766 and 1767, stands among the best-preserved of its kind worldwide. It contains a small auditorium with tiered wooden benches and a balcony reserved for nobility. The orchestra pit is narrow and lowered, while the stage extends deeply, retaining its original wooden machinery that allowed rapid scene changes and special effects during performances. Following restoration in the 1990s, the theater remains an outstanding example of 18th-century theatrical architecture.

Westward from the theater lies a riding hall and a late Baroque park designed in the mid-18th century. The park features a cascading fountain richly decorated with sculptures, highlighting the period’s garden artistry. The northern side of the park contains the Belaria pavilion, a two-story building constructed between 1706 and 1708, which was redecorated with frescoes during the mid-18th century. Opposite the pavilion, a modern metal rotating auditorium is situated, used to host summer theater festivals and continuing the tradition of cultural activities in the castle precincts.

Together, these elements create a complex that preserves multiple layers of architectural history, showcasing developments from medieval fortifications through Renaissance transformation and Baroque refinement. The castle stands as a well-documented record of noble residence, defensive strategy, artistic patronage, and cultural life through centuries.