Monday 29th August - Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

We said goodbye to Salzburg, having really enjoyed our stay, and set out for the Czech Republic.  Once again, we’re on the search for a vignette but discovered that unlike other European countries we’ve visited who arrange for vignettes to be offered at petrol stations near the border, Czech vignettes can only be purchased once you’re in the Czech Republic.  We stopped at a garage, just inside the Czech border but before the customs checkpoint. So far we’ve had wonderfully friendly service throughout Europe but there was a dramatic drop in the temperature of the welcome by the garage staff in the Czech Republic.  This reminded us of difficulties we’d experienced on a previous visit to Prague and  we wondered what the welcome would be like at the campsite in Cesky Krumlov.  Making brief visits to places means you rely quite heavily on friendly, helpful staff giving you all the local information you need and a smile goes a long way to making you feel able to ask for help.

We arrived at the campsite, Camping Chvalsiny, turning into what at first glance appeared to be a farm yard.  The sign on the reception door said they were closed for another half an hour but a lady with a broad smile came out and said we needn’t take any notice of that, ‘just come right in’.  We immediately felt at ease and this turned out to be one of the best campsites we’ve stayed on to date.  It was set up eighteen years ago by a Dutch couple who enjoyed hiking and camping in the Czech Republic but got fed up with not being able to find a decent campsite.  They also had a dream of owning a campsite so combined the two thoughts and bought a piece of land with a lake, part of a farm, and set about ensuring it provided all of the conveniences they had appreciated in their many years of camping.  It has some 150 pitches but it was just out of their season so comparatively quiet.

In the evening Ans, the owner, had arranged to do a guided tour of Cesky Krumlov by night.  The arrangement was to pool cars but she was happy to take us in hers which meant we didn’t have to unload all of our stuff.  There were about a dozen campers going on the tour and all the others were Dutch.  Although Ans speaks perfect English, two of the other campers offered to translate for her to save her having to say everything twice.  In our experience, the Dutch are always friendly and make jolly and companionable fellow campers.

Cesky Krumlov is a stunning town and visiting it at night the streets are empty so you can move around freely.  Access would not be easy for the disabled or infirm as there are some really steep climbs and all the streets are cobble stoned.  We had a great tour that provided a good basis for our own daytime explorations tomorrow.

 

 

         

                                                                           The castle at Cesky Krumlov by night

              The climb to the Castle

 

The inside of Restaurant Don Julius showing the replica of the town in plaster relief around the walls, complete with lights shining from the windows of the little buildings.