19 miles,  1,250 elevation gain, 2 hours biking time

 

Today is a short day with several very steep climbs. Beautiful countryside. Yesterday’s weather report said there’d be thunderstorms all day today. Lucky for us the rain held off.

I took these two pictures from the same spot, just looking one way and then other.

We arrived in Cesky Krumlov by 1100. Here we’re walking the bike down a very steep cobblestone street looking for our hotel. It’s right here somewhere.

Once again quick showers and off we go to explore the town. This is my favorite town so far. Cesky Krumlov is a medieval town and has been a UNESCO world cultural heritage site since 1992. For centuries this town has been known as the “Pearl of the Bohemian Forest.” It has over 300 historical buildings and an impressive castle complex.

To give you an idea of the town check out this map. The castle complex is on the upper right and the town square is in the center. The Vltava makes an extreme S curve here.

Here’s a peak at the castle from the town.

And here is the castle.

This is our destination.

 

We’ve been listening to the thunder getting closer so we headed up to the top of the tower.

Check out these old stairs.

And the view from the top.

 

 

By the time I took this picture the wind was howling so hard I could hardly stand still and it was time to get out of the tower.

Back down we go.

 

We got out of the tower just as the rain started to dump so we got tickets for a castle tour and stayed nice and dry until the rain stopped for the moment. (No photography in the castle.)

This was kinda’ funny.

Oh, and here’s the bear who lives in the moat.

Some sites around the village.

As we walked back to the hotel we heard an odd sort of rhythmic sound and as we rounded the corner, we came upon the source of the sound. It was the stick people. They would pound the large stick on the cobbles and tap that stick with a small stick, making a musical rhythm.

Such a great place.