The Český Krumlov gardens lie between the imposing castle of the 18th-century Schwarzenburg princes and the surrounding Bohemian town, connecting the Gothic castle to the cobblestone streets and colorful houses below. (...)
The Český Krumlov gardens lie between the imposing castle of the 18th-century Schwarzenburg princes and the surrounding Bohemian town, connecting the Gothic castle to the cobblestone streets and colorful houses below. The gardens themselves, originally landscaped in 1550, contain an eclectic mix of styles with French baroque planting beds, Italian neoclassical influences, and architectural elements taken from Hapsburg Vienna. Though initially created to be purely decorative, for some time part of the land was used to grow fruits and vegetables. The gardens’ evolution was finalized in 1752, when rococo features were added to the plan. They have remained intact since that point, drawing tourists to their many terraces, grand staircases, and water displays. Despite their popularity, the gardens were not maintained or properly cared for in the second half of the 20th century. Pollution in the air had dramatically deteriorated many of the sculptural elements, and the water supply system had ceased to function.
