If you love European city breaks but hate the immense crowds that typically go hand-in-hand with them, a little-known scenic town in the Czech Republic could be just the tonic. With its 13th-century medieval castle, meandering cobbled alleys, and Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements, it’s safe to say that Český Krumlov looks like something straight out of the pages of a fairytale. Frequently described by travel industry as a ‘ Prague in miniature’, this small medieval town has a population of just 13,056.
But while it might be smaller than the capital city, it still has a lot to offer visitors with its rich history and charming location – nestled by the rolling hills of the country’s South Bohemia region and beside the Vltava river. In fact, UNESCO hailed Cesky Krumlov as an ‘outstanding example of a small central European medieval town’ in 1992 and listed it as a World Heritage Site . Miraculously, the city escaped bombing during the Second World War, leaving a perfectly-preserved Old Town – perhaps one of the largest contributing factors to its reputation as ‘one of the most picturesque towns in Europe ’.
In many ways, the spot is just as beautiful as Prague – only it comes without the huge crowds and notorious stag do reputation. Bonus points all round. This ‘small scale Prague’ is actually located around 110 miles south of the capital city.
For those flying into the capital, or planning to visit both destinations during one trip, it takes.