Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov, is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its historic centre, centred around the Český Krumlov Castle, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992 and was given this status along with the historic Prague castle district.The town's name begins with Český ("Czech" or "Bohemian") to differentiate it from Moravský Krumlov in south Moravia.HistoryThe settlement arose beneath the castle, which was erected from about 1240 onwards by a local branch of the noble Vítkovci family, decendants of Witiko of Prčice. The fortress was first first mentioned in a 1253 deed as Chrumbenowe. According to local legend, the name derives from Middle High German krumbe ouwe which can be translated as "crooked meadow", after a bend of the Vltava River. It was also mentioned in the 1255 Frauendienst poem by minnesinger Ulrich von Liechtenstein. Located at a ford of an important trade route in the Kingdom of Bohemia, a settlement arose soonafter beneath the castle. The Czech name Krumlov is documented as early as in 1259.