I have spent a few days in the last week visiting some other places outside Prague, and got to see some of the Czech countryside - lots of farm areas with crops, few signs of animals, attractive country villages and small towns and some nice mountain areas. Nice to travel through but would also be nice for hiking.
First stop was Karlovy Vary, the Czech version of a "glam, resort town". It is based around natural springs which are believed to have medicinal uses so people walk around with special cups from which they continually sip the spring water. It actually tasted just like bore water to me but fortunately didn't have the strong sulfur smell. The setting was lovely though with a stream running through the centre of town, forested mountains on either side and pretty houses (and hotels) in the valley floor and starting to climb up the sides of the mountains. Had a nice walk through the forest. There was also lots of shops to cater for the wealthy Russians, Austrians, Germans and Czech who visit - jewellery, clothes, cafes and restaurants, often with menus in Russian, and crystal shops. The jewellery shops were full of gold, silver, pearls, diamonds and one even had some Moroccan fossils. To cater for the well-heeled it also has lots of hotels, not just ordinary hotels, but "wellness and spa" hotels. It was a pleasant relaxing place though.
Next stop was to the south, near the Austrian border (KV was to the west close to the German border) . Cesky Krumlov is a very old town situated on an almost 360 degree river bend, which surrounds the old town with 600-700 year old buildings, cobbled streets with a castle perched on the other side. The castle is the second largest in the Czech Republic and has some stunning decoration - frescoes, carvings, paintings . . . I also happened to run into the tail end of the five-petalled rose festival when I arrived. This flower symbolises both the town and the castle and is found everywhere. The festival celebrates to town's medieval heritage and includes traditional activities such as musket firing and jousting. I also got to see a procession of people in traditional dress. So that was an added bonus. The days after this were much quieter. Again it is a nice quiet relaxing place that is fun to wander around, sit and eat or have a drink in a riverside cafe.
A Cesky Krumlov window
Dressed up for the Five-Petaled Rose Festival
First stop was Karlovy Vary, the Czech version of a "glam, resort town". It is based around natural springs which are believed to have medicinal uses so people walk around with special cups from which they continually sip the spring water. It actually tasted just like bore water to me but fortunately didn't have the strong sulfur smell. The setting was lovely though with a stream running through the centre of town, forested mountains on either side and pretty houses (and hotels) in the valley floor and starting to climb up the sides of the mountains. Had a nice walk through the forest. There was also lots of shops to cater for the wealthy Russians, Austrians, Germans and Czech who visit - jewellery, clothes, cafes and restaurants, often with menus in Russian, and crystal shops. The jewellery shops were full of gold, silver, pearls, diamonds and one even had some Moroccan fossils. To cater for the well-heeled it also has lots of hotels, not just ordinary hotels, but "wellness and spa" hotels. It was a pleasant relaxing place though.
Karlovy Vary buildings (above and below)
In the forest walking down from the lookout tower
Next stop was to the south, near the Austrian border (KV was to the west close to the German border) . Cesky Krumlov is a very old town situated on an almost 360 degree river bend, which surrounds the old town with 600-700 year old buildings, cobbled streets with a castle perched on the other side. The castle is the second largest in the Czech Republic and has some stunning decoration - frescoes, carvings, paintings . . . I also happened to run into the tail end of the five-petalled rose festival when I arrived. This flower symbolises both the town and the castle and is found everywhere. The festival celebrates to town's medieval heritage and includes traditional activities such as musket firing and jousting. I also got to see a procession of people in traditional dress. So that was an added bonus. The days after this were much quieter. Again it is a nice quiet relaxing place that is fun to wander around, sit and eat or have a drink in a riverside cafe.
Cesky Krumlov and the river that encircles it
A Cesky Krumlov window
Dressed up for the Five-Petaled Rose Festival
1 comment:
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