On the first day, students will get a guided tour of the famous Budweiser brewery (the original, not the American knock-off), and discover the secrets of beer making! Students will then stroll the streets of the newly renovated South Bohemian capital: České Budějovice. The city has one of the most beautiful squares in the Czech Republic, surrounded on all sides by Baroque burgher houses with arcades.

Next stop is Český Krumlov, a medieval town founded in the middle of the 13th century on two meanders of the Vltava River.  The unique preserved architecture, the castle overlooking the town (the second largest after Prague) and the amazingly well preserved Baroque theater inscribed the town in the UNESCO list of the World Heritage sites in 1992. Students will have 2 days to explore the town also known as the jewel of South Bohemia.

Strolling through the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Town, visitors will find an enchanted atmosphere, surrounded by more than 300 well-preserved historical buildings, including St. Vitus' Church, built in the early 1400's.
Situated in a valley with the Blansko Forest to the north and the foothills of Šumava to the south and west, opportunities for nature hikes, biking, and cross-country skiing abound. The Vltava river, which surrounds the town, can be enjoyed by wooden raft, canoe, or kayak.

The castle complex, with its tower situated on a rocky promontory, offers spectacular views of the Old Town below. This complex consists of forty buildings and palaces, as well as gardens, courtyards, and a moat with resident bears. One of the more modern additions is a revolving outdoor auditorium where visitors can watch plays throughout the summer.

 A highlight of the castle is the well-preserved Baroque Theater, which dates back to the 1400's. In the 18th century, the theater was equipped with unique machinery for changing scenes and adorned with wall and ceiling murals preserved to this day. 

The 180-foot tall tower has a gallery of wall murals dating back to the late 16th century, four bells built from the early 1400's to the mid-1700's, and the expansive view of the Old Town below; the castle tower is a highlight of any visit to Český Krumlov.

The Old Town has several noteworthy museums and galleries. The Regional Museum houses a permanent collection of about 34,000 objects including Bohemian antiques and archeological finds from the region as well as a detailed model of Český Krumlov at the turn of the 19th century. 

The Museum of Architecture and Craft, located on the first floor of the historic house, Dlouhá 92, in the centre of Český Krumlov, displays the architectural details of the burgher houses of Český Krumlov from the Middle Ages to today. The museum exhibits timber ceilings, portals, doors and windows, framing and facades, as well as colourful interior decorations.

History:
The original Gothic castle, upon which the town of Český Krumlov was based, was founded by the Lords of Krumlov (one of the branches of the Vítkovci family. around 1253. The Vítkovci family was a branch of the powerful Witigonen family, which has the five-petalled rose in its coat-of-arms. In 1302, the last Witigonen died, and the Witigonens' relatives, the Rosenbergs (Rožmberk), inherited the castle. The Rosenbergs maintained their seat there until 1602. During this time, the town experienced its greatest prosperity, with rapid economic development, construction of new buildings, and the expansion of trade with other cities in the region.

In 1602, the Emperor Rudolf II von Habsbursg bought the Krumlov dominion. In 1622, it was transferred to the Eggenberg family. In the 1680's, under the rule of Johann Christian I. von Eggenberg, farming, construction, and the arts flourished, helping Český Krumlov rise out of a period of stagnation that resulted from the Thirty Years' War. At the end of 17th century, the Castle Baroque Theatre was built; and the Castle Gardens were renovated. In 1719, a new dynasty, the Schwarzenbergs, inherited Český Krumlov. In the second generation of their rule, Joseph Adam zu Schwarzenberg began extensive reconstruction of the castle. During this time, the castle was developed with a Baroque character.

Towards the end of the 18th century, and in the 19th century, the economy and the arts stagnated. By the middle of the 19th century, the Český Krumlov Castle was no longer the main residence of the Krumlov-Hluboká Schwarzenberg family. In the 20th century, the World Wars caused further stagnation though Krumlov was spared damage from battles or from bombings. At the end of the war, the German population was expelled.

In 1989, the Velvet Revolution brought renewal to Český Krumlov.