Český Krumlov

The name of the town, Krumlov, is taken from the German „Krumme Aue", or „crooked meadow", likely from the shape of the river surrounding the town. The town was founded by the Budivoj brothers from the renowned Bohemian family on the site of an old trade route. The first written mention of the town and castle comes from 1253.

The castle grew and expanded, transforming into a noble residence as the influence and importance of its owners grew. The castle became the second largest aristocratic seat in Central Europe after Prague Castle. The town emerged in two stages. First was the area beneath the castle known as Latrán, the name coming from the Latin expression „ad latera castelli", or alongside the castle. The Old Town was later established on the opposite bank of the river. Centuries passed with very little change. The town fortification walls were built around the town, and its main period of development finished in 1347.

From 1302 and for the next 300 years, the owners and rulers of the town were the powerful Rožmberk family, also known as the „Lords of the Rose". It was during this period that the town witnessed its period of greatest growth. The magnificent church of St. Vitus was built, and the Minorite, Jesuit, and Poor Clare orders were invited to settle in town. The town also benefited from the extraction of gold and silver ore. During the reformation and subsequent Hussite Wars, the town became a safe haven for the aristocracy and the more educated citizens of Prague. During the reign of the Rožmberks, Krumlov became the most important town in South Bohemia, even finding its place in the Holy Roman Empire of German nationalities.

Petr I. of Rožmberk was the most important member of the family during the European Renaissance. It was he who invited the orders of Minorite and Poor Clares to town, as well as Jews who administered the Rožmberk finances and commerce. The 15^th century was dominated by the figure of Oldřich II. of Rožmberk. A skilled politician, he managed to maintain his family's influence and protect its property during the Hussite Wars. Vilém of Rožmberk is another important figure and ruled Krumlov in the 16^th century.

The Lords of the Rose ruled the town and its surroundings for over 300 years, during which the town richly prospered. The heraldic coat of arms of the town itself is taken from the Rožmberk coat of arms - a red five-petalled rose on a silver background. In 1601, the last of the Rožmberks, Petr Vok, was severely in debt and sold Krumlov to the Habsburg Emperor Rudolph II, who gave it to the Eggenberg family during the Thirty Years' War for faithful service to the Emperor. Under the patronage of Johann Christian I. of Eggenberg, the extensive castle gardens were established as was the castle's Baroque Theatre, now the best preserved Baroque theatre in Central Europe. The theatre's ingenious machinery controlled 10 stage scenes, while the theatre itself possesses over 500 theatre costumes and props.

The Schwarzenberg family inherited Krumlov in 1719. Under the reign of Joseph Adam of Schwarzenberg, Krumlov again became a center of culture and art, inspired by the style of the Viennese Imperial court. Joseph's son, Johann Nepomuk of Schwarzenberg, is credited for the later economic blossom of the entire Schwarzenberg dominion.

The renewal of Czech patriotism at the beginning of the 20^th century resulted in nationalist conflicts between the town's Czech and German population. The original name of the town, Krumlov, was prefixed with the word "Český", emphasizing its Czechness. During the First World War, both nationalities lived here in peace; this lasted only until the middle 1930's, however, when Krumlov's German population, influenced by events in Germany, demanded incorporation by Germany, and the town's Czech and Jewish population was evicted. Český Krumlov was liberated by the American Army in 1945. The German population was expelled from the town after WWII, and the town was re-inhabited by people from around the country.

During the Communist era, the development of the town and its historic buildings came to a standstill. The Communist regime was not interested in international tourism, fearing its influence on the local population. It is ironic that this fact helped Krumlov retain its original appearance. Following the events of 1989, Krumlov woke up from its long slumber and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Český Krumlov again became sought after as a destination, this time for thousands of tourists from around the world.