A fairy-tale conglomeration of gothic church spires, baroque frontispieces, Germanic homes and renaissance rises, the city of Cesky Krumlov is unquestionably one of the most attractive towns on South Bohemia’s line-up. But it’s not just good looking either, because CK also touts its own UNESCO tag, and hails as the home of the second largest castle complex in the entire Republic.

Most Cesky Krumlov tourist guides will suggest an itinerary that encompasses the charming, tight-knit lanes of the upper old town (also known as the Latran), where the regal 13^th century edifices of the castle complex dominate the skyline. This is the ancient kernel of the city, protected now by the iconic Krumlov bears and the grand bulwarks of the Budejovicka Gate.

On the far side of the river, the red-tiled roofs of traditional Bohemian homesteads conceal a hodgepodge of rustic Czech taverns, where the clink of beer tankards and the aromatic smells of grilled regional meats serenade adventure travellers as they depart for those ubiquitous rafting excursions on the wilder sections of the Vltava.