Free time in Český Krumlov

We were guided around the town so that we had our bearings and knew how to get back to the coach. We then had two hours to do our own thing. I wandered around and settled on a riverside restaurant for lunch. It was lovely to sit in the warm October sunshine. I decided to try another Czech speciality - breaded, fried cheese served with parsley new potatoes and tartare sauce. I know it sounds weird, but it kind of worked. I was very full afterwards, though, and made sure I did a few thousand more steps before it was time to return to the bus.

I went for a look around the magnificent Church of St Vitus. Standing high above the River Vltava, the church is one of the town's most prominent landmarks, second only to the castle. Its origins date back to 1309, although much of the present Gothic building was constructed between 1407 and 1439, under the patronage of the powerful Rosenberg family. Inside, the sheer scale is breathtaking, with soaring stone pillars supporting an extraordinary network of ribbed Gothic vaulting high overhead. This intricate ceiling was influenced by the Gothic architecture of St Vitus Cathedral in Prague. The church has been altered and extended over the centuries, incorporating beautiful Baroque chapels alongside its medieval architecture. It also served as a burial place for members of the noble families who ruled Český Krumlov, including Vilém of Rosenberg, who died in 1592. One particularly unusual detail is that the hearts of several members of the Schwarzenberg family were preserved and buried separately in the Chapel of St John of Nepomuk. Today, the church remains an active place of worship and is a wonderful reminder of the wealth, power and religious importance of this small Bohemian town during the Middle Ages. I'm so pleased I made time to go inside, because the interior is every bit as impressive as the exterior!Read more