Český Krumlov Castle
castle in the Czech Republic
Český Krumlov Castle (Czech: Hrad Český Krumlov) is a castle in Český Krumlov in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It dates back to 1253 when the first castle was built by the Vítkovci family, the main branch of the powerful Bohemian family Rosenberg.
Currently the castle is listed as a national heritage site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, this serves as a major tourist attraction. It is the second most visited castle and the second largest castle and chateau complex in the Czech Republic after Prague Castle.
History
The earliest documented reference to the castle is from 1253, marking it as the residence of the noble Witiko of Prčice from the Vítkovci family. After the Vítkov lineage of the Krumlov family died out in 1302, the castle came under the Rosenberg family’s control, who initiated a significant Renaissance makeover led by William of Rosenberg.
By the 17th century the Rosenbergs had died out, and Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II gave the dominion of Krumau to Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, naming him Duke of Krumau. After the death of Hans Ulrich's son, Johann Anton I von Eggenberg, the castle was administered for the period between 1649 and 1664 by his widow, Anna Maria.
One of her two sons, Johann Christian I von Eggenberg, was responsible for the Baroque renovations and expansions to the castle, including the castle theatre now called the Eggenberg Theatre. When the male line of the Eggenbergs died out in 1717, the castle and duchy passed into the possession of the Schwarzenbergs.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Český Krumlov Castle” is castle in the Czech Republic. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Český, Krumlov and Castle, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “castle in the Czech Republic” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The strongest evidence will usually combine a dated visual record with documents produced by the authority responsible for the place. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 28, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2164919. VIAF identifies the subject as 155258473. The Library of Congress control number is no2015162068. Authority coordinates are 48.813, 14.315. 2 of 6 selected statements include explicit references; 2 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1253, 1992, 1302 and 1649.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
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Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Český Krumlov Castle”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Český Krumlov Castle primary sources, Český Krumlov Castle archive and Český research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Český Krumlov Castle”?
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This entry incorporates text from “Český Krumlov Castle” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.