The Life, People, Architechture Of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Austria Editorial Photo

The castle and town were founded in the middle of the 13th century on two meanders of the Vltava river that closely follow each other around. The name of the town is supposed to have come from the old German term, krumme Au, denoting curved meadow. The flow of the river created a deep valley in the rocks, and the river almost curves back on itself at one point of the meander. The rocks slope steeply at an inner curve of the river near the castle as well as in the town. This cut of the river`s isthmus created a very useful protective zone which was then strengthened by the construction of the Cloak Bridge and Horní Gate.