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Showing posts with label Graz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graz. Show all posts

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Cesky Krumlov (CZECHIA) - Graz (AUSTRIA) - on the road to the Adriatic

Cesky Krumlov (Czechia) - Graz (Austria)
19 August - 20 August 2016


For years the town of Cesky Krumlov had somehow in my mind become interchangeable with Moravsky Krumlov. The reason, aside for them containing the same name component 'Krumlov', which Wikipedia also portends to by saying that Cesky (Bohemian) was a deliberate addition to distinguish is from Moravian Krumlov, is because my father at one point in his life lived in Moravsky Krumlov for several months during WWII. Hence every time I'd hear the name Cesky Krumlov I'd consider it to be one in the same with Moravsky - apologies to Cesky Krumlov, you are special for a reason, even though you’re only a short 200km drive away.


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic


Our stop in Cesky Krumlov was only a drive through, a few hours  dedicated to seeing a town that has been called a mini Prague, and since 1982, has been a World Heritage listed site. Meaning simply that it is a town of cultural, historical or scientific significance, legally protected by international treaties. A funny thing UNESCO World Heritage listing. A few studies have in fact targeted the World Heritage convention as being somewhat of a toothless tiger, having little or no legitimacy under international law. For me and the little I know about international law I agree, World Heritage listing simply acts as a ‘rubber stamp’,  it’s a type of honour bestowed on a place more as an identification credit or marketing tool for significance or importance. Great from a touristic perspective though, it assists in identifying places that you should see over others, so I guess that’s a bonus.


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic




Cesky Krumlov is an impressive place though. Without question, one of the most picturesque small towns in Europe, commonly mentioned in the same breath as Hallstat (Austria), Colmar (France), Bruges (Belgium), Dubrovnik (Croatia) or Sintra (Portugal), it would certainly challenge any of those places as being the headline on the list.

Charming and fairytale like, this town in Southern Bohemia has all the things that you look for in a place like this. The lovely Vltavy river bounding the town in an S-shape, providing an element of both fun and frivolity in the Summer months. Then of course there are the cobble stoned road, endless bridges, architecture and typical artisanal fair that always appears to make its way to the heart of places like this,


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic


As I mentioned earlier, our time here was only very short. It’s the type of place that you could easily dedicate a few days to and wind back your ‘speed of life’ to a 2 on the dial.


Cesky Krumlov - Bohemia -  Czech Republic

Later that evening we made our way into Graz. Unfortunately we had absolutely no time to explore this town and somehow I’ve often found myself in the position, both before this day and after it, whereby Graz has become a transition city. It has never made it to ‘end-point’ destination status and it irks me a little as it’s the birthplace of one of my grandparents. For the record, the grandparent birthplace mix goes Vienna (Austria), Split (Croatia), Belgrade (Serbia) and Graz (Austria).

Apologies Graz, I only saw a few of your desolate streets through the lens of a weary late evening arrival and equally bleary eyed morning departure.