kirks & cobblestones and castles & cathedrals

As we drive through the French, German, Austrian and Czech countrysides we have noticed that the fields and valleys are dotted with small communities easily identified by the spire poking up from the stand of trees that usually surrounds the town. With our particular ##@*&^%$$@*# Sat Nav, we have spent more time than most, I'm sure, exploring the "roads less travelled" and we have noticed that, from the smallest village to the largest city, they are characterised by narrow, windy cobbled streets and a church located in the centre of, or a hill overlooking, the village or town they serve.

In the large cities there are any number of lesser churches, still magnificent structures of stone and slate with carvings and gargoyles, but a large city usually has a mighty cathedral or castle .....or even both!

Prague at night with the magnificent cathedral in the background surrounded by the castle and the Charles IV bridge in the foreground

The inside of the church of Our Lady Before Tyne, Old Town Square,Prague

The Amiens Cathedral during an evening light show highlighting the intricate carvings and figures. This is the largest, but one of dozens of large churches in the city.

Our visit to Cesky Krumlov was a an example of all these features coming together in one place. It has a castle, churches, spires, a meandering, windy river and cobbles and lanes and old, old, old buildings..

The view of Cesky Krumlov from the castle battlements

Windy, cobbled lanes with ancient buildings under the shadow of the castle and spire.

The castle walls and battlements. No wonder it is a UNESCO listed site.

We were lucky to be there on a Saturday when the markets and shows were on. We had a street vendor lunch of  barbecued Kransky sausages and potato swirls with a rich fruit drink while the local children entertained us with music and dancing. So delicious to all the senses!

We would never have visited this fascinating place without Wendy Allan's insistence. Mind you, it isn't exactly a secret and there were lots of visitors enjoying the markets and shopping and history but the hustle and bustle adds to the ambience of the place. It was a real gem of a find and definitely on the list of places to see for anyone visiting this part of the world...and if you have a "hankering" for kirks & cobbles and castles and cathedrals...you really can't go past Cesky Krumlov or Prague or Rothenburg or Bruges.....