Cesky Krumlov is one of Bohemia's most beautiful towns, with a well protected historical centre. The city's castle is the second largest in the Czech Republic (after the Prague Castle) and it dominates the town from a hill overlooking the Vltava River.

It was known as Krumau until after WW II when the German-speaking population was evicted. Construction of the town and castle began in the late 13th century at a ford in the Vltava River which was important in trade routes. Most of the architecture of the old town and castle region dates from the 14th century through 17th century, structures are in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Above the meanders of the Vltava River, a unique complex of municipal housing developed, mainly in the 16th century, along with an extensive castle and chateau complex. The core of the old town is within a horseshoe bend of the river, with the old Latran neighborhood and castle on the other side of the Vltava.