Český Krumlov Castle

Just two hours south of Prague is a bohemian city that is otherwise known as Europe's Fairytale Hidden Gem, Český Krumlov. 

From the second we arrived in the city, we instantly felt like we had been transported to a Disney fairytale. Ceský Krumlov has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's not hard to see why - located on the Vltava River, the city retains its original character with its winding laneways and Baroque-style architecture. 

The most notable architecture in the city is the Český Krumlov Castle, with its magnificently coloured gothic tower and its five castle courts. The castle itself is actually one of the largest in Central Europe, with over 40 buildings and palaces attached to the main castle. We knew we had to get a glimpse of this castle from atop the tower and for just a mere 50 cvk (or $3.00 Canadian) we had the opportunity to climb up the castle. Not only was the castle itself impressive but the view of the surrounding area is utterly spectacular.  If you're an avid ghost hunter, you may even catch a glimpse of the White Lady, Perchta of Rosenberg, peering out of one of the castle windows as it 's said her ghost haunts the castle walls. 

The only part that I skipped when visiting the castle was the opportunity to see the four bears that are captive in the moat around the castle, as I was made aware that these bears have been subjected to this cruel tradition for hundreds of years. The moat was reconstructed to meet modern requirements for these animals to live, but the castle would still be just as impressive without this cruel attraction. 

If you'd like to sign the petition to end this captivity, you can follow this link on change.org:  at: https://chng.it/PsvCnz4PQP. There are countless other petitions available online as well. With enough outreach, hopefully they put an end to this archaic and cruel tourist draw.