The Czech Republic-Tips for the trips-Šumava - on the water

Lush forests, extensive bogs and marshland, and hundreds of streams that run from the Šumava hillsides feed into the country’s most beautiful rivers: Vltava, Vydra, and Otava. The silvery-foamed Vltava is loved by canoeists and rafters, who pack up their tents, bags, and food, to spend their evenings in spartan campsites and prepare their meals on an open fire. This blend of romance and adventure attracts a great number of both local and foreign tourists each year. The Vltava River is literally the essence of the Czech landscape – it trickles as a small brook from the mountains at the Czech border, gathering momentum, and continues to flow beneath the castles of kings eventually spreading on into river valley farmland.

Painter of love and erotica
The life story of the painter of expressive erotica, Egon Schiele (1890 – 1918), is closely tied to Český Krumlov. His mother was born here and Schiele himself returned to Krumlov following his studies in Vienna. He was expelled from Krumlov because of his relations with models, which were too open for the public taste. Despite the expulsion he often returned and painted here. Today Český Krumlov has an important art centre with a gallery of Schiele’s paintings.

Don`t miss:
Pramen Vltavy (Source of the Vltava) - A river with its source in bogs at a height of 1170m above sea level is a must for hikers visiting the Šumava area.
Jezera - the gloomy beauty of the Šumava Forests lights up the many lakes located below the highest mountain peaks. Among the most breathtaking and also scientifically most fascinating are Čertovo, Černé and Laka Lakes.
Rožmberk - a medieval fortress towering above a man-made lake, it is the family estate of the Buquoy nobility and its museum is definitely worth a visit.
Lipno - a dammed reservoir, which has become the regular site of international windsurfing and sailboat regattas. Don`t miss rafting and canoe races on the rapids.
Písek - a medieval town with the oldest stone bridge in Central Europe.Domažlice - Gothic town of the Chodove people, medieval protectors of Bohemia`s borders.