One goal I had in mind when we booked a month in Prague was to get out of the city limits and see some of the Czech countryside. I had kept hearing from people on our travels that if we’re in the Czech Republic we really should visit the little town called Cesky Krumlov. After the third or forth recommendation I knew we just had to go! It wasn’t the simplest choice for a day trip, as it was a three and a half bus ride from the city. But Student Agency bus company has great connections from Prague to Cesky Krumlov that run continuously throughout the day and you can book the tickets online in advance which I would definitely recommend as they sell out fast! We’re used to long bus rides by now so this one was quick in comparison, there is a bus ‘hostess’ who distributes free hot drinks and the bus is clean and comfy with all the amenities you could need onboard. I spent the three or so hours gazing out the window and soaking in as much of the scenery as I could. Another reason why I love buses, you get much more of a sense of a country and its natural terrain.
Beautiful Cesky Krumlov is nestled between hills deep in the Czech countryside and it is surrounded by a moat. The castle sits above the town and has the most spectacular view. Streets are cobbled and winding, we had lunch at a traditional Czech restaurant and spent our afternoon exploring in the sunshine. I felt like I had stepped into a portal back in time and I was living a real life fairytale.
As we crossed the draw bridge and found ourselves in the grounds of the castle I couldn’t help but feel like I was entering in a disney film. I though castles were sort of made up places you hear about in bed-time stories, but here I was walking the pebbled roads of the cartoons I had so adored when I was a little girl. It’s surreal, the view is breath-taking, I don’t think my pictures can quite show you just how beautiful it really is.
I couldn’t imagine having more beautiful weather for our visit, the Spring time blossoms were in full bloom and the sun was warm and welcoming. Although I’ve heard the town turns into a winter wonderland in the colder months of the year and I can imagine it having a completely different kind of beauty. I spent the day wandering around in complete bliss, snapping pictures endlessly and just soaking in the history you can feel with every step. We sat by the moat and watched ducks swimming along, calling one over to feed him the remains of our bus snacks. We spent five hours in Cesky Krumlov which felt like more than enough time, you could definitely see the whole town in four!
Dusk-lit bus ride home feeling so lucky to be on this journey, to see and feel everything. To know what a real castle looks like, to eat traditional foods from far away lands, to watch the sun slip below the horizon from a bus rocketing through the Czech countryside.
Some days are slow or uneventful when you’re travelling, not everything can be perfect and amazing all the time.. but sometimes there are days like this one, filled with wonder, sunshine and endless happiness.
Barbara
What a wonderful town! I visited Prague last summer, but I only stayed for 4 days, not enough time to explore outside the city. But if I’m able to return to Prague one day I will make sure to visit Cesky Krumlov, it looks lovely!