Switzerland in Czech

This is a long overdue  post.  Been busy with other things lately that I haven’t found the time to pen down my thoughts.

Anyhow, I mentioned in a previous post about Decin, one of the beautiful places that we visited this past summer.  It was actually a side trip for our actual destination – Czech Switzerland.

Before we got here, I initially thought that Czech is a boring place since it’s too far away from the sea, and it is relatively small.  But after living here for 3 years now, its diverse topography really impressed me a lot.  What do you know, they actually have miniatures of famous countries all within this small state.

Czech Switzerland is the youngest among CZ’s national parks.  The Elbe river, which separates Czech and Germany splits the park as well.  Hence, it is both called Czech Switzerland and Saxon Switzerland.  It’s romantic name can be credited to Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, two Swiss painters and teacher that the Dresden Academy in the mid-18th century.  As they were travelling to places close to the Elbe, their painting gained popularity and became the basis for the promotion of the beauties of nature.

Since my daughter is still too young to do any serious hikes, we were only able to visit the parts with easy trails.

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This was the landscape that greeted us on our way to our hotel in Tisa.

We did a short hike on paved road, and everyone enjoyed it immensely.

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Although there was a time when our little man had a temper tantrum.

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But there’s nothing that can’t be fixed by a small joke, a hug and a kiss.  And he’s a happy trooper again.

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The walk was all worthwhile after we saw the view that awaited us.

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Out here you can see the key cities in the region.  Even Mr. Grumpy enjoyed the sight.

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The area that we visited is just a tip of the iceberg.  There are still far more beautiful sights in this national park.  But I’m glad we were able to visit the place, so then we can come back for more.

If you would like to know more about Czech Switzerland, you can visit their site here.

Destination: Český Krumlov

One of my favorite places in the Czech Republic is Český Krumlov.  Located in Southern Bohemia, the town is a 2 and a half  hour drive from Prague.

Due to its old-world charm and natural beauty, it is one of the most visited places in Czech.  On our trip there, I was surprised to see a lot of Asian tourists.  Other than Prague, this town had the most diverse tourist population compared to the other places we visited.

The castle, with its beautiful gardens, offers breath-taking views of the city.

But the inner city is not to be outdone.  It also has its own charm that enchants every visitor.

Český Krumlov is a city bordered by the Vlatava river.  Thus, it is not surprising to see that canoeing, kayaking and rafting is one of its best attractions.

During our trip, we didn’t get to do this, but it gave us motivation to go back.  Perhaps when Jakub is older, we can try it.

I felt that the 2 days that we spent there was a very short trip, but it gave us reason to come back for more.

For those of you who are interested in checking out this place, more information can be found here.

The Festival of The Royal Silvering of Kutná Hora

These past few days, we had nothing but blue skies and bright days.  Summer is indeed here.

This morning, since we didn’t go out of town, my husband and I decided to take a short trip to Kutna Hora, a neighboring town, for a picnic at one of the famous parks there.  Because we didn’t check the event calendar for the park, we ended up running on to the “Festival of the Royal Silvering of Kutna Hora.”

Performers dancing a traditional medieval dance
Young girls dancing as part of a short stage play.

The event was held at the Italian Court, the central mint of the Kingdom of Bohemia and former residence  of the king in the 15th century.

The Italian Court overlooking the Park where the festival was held.

It was an awesome event filled with music, dancing, jousts, and the fictitious arrival of King Wenceslaus and Queen Sofia of Bavaria.

Drummers announcing the arrival of the king and queen.
The knights’ parade
The king and queen arrives.
The king’s court

Being in the event made me feel like I was transported back in time when Kutna Hora was at its prime.  Back then, Kutna Hora was a famous silver mining town which was the second most important town in the kingdom of Bohemia after Prague.  The costumes that were worn signified wealth and prosperity in the town.

One of my favorite parts of the show was a sword fight performed by actors.

Another favorite was the performance of a band that specializes in Medieval music.

It was also fun to watch people dress up for the event.  Kids in costumes always have a soft spot in my heart.

But I wasn’t the only one who was totally entertained.  Guess who were at the front row?

I am really glad that we accidentally attended this event in Kutna Hora.  I will mark it in my calendar next year, so it will be one of those weekend events that we will go to.

More information about this event can be found here.