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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Before visiting this city, I have read an interesting story about the name of this place (It disturbed me since I have heard the name of Czech Krumlov first time (perhaps, we should say Belarussian Minsk or Russian Moskow?:))) And I wish to share this story with you:)
According to legend, the name Krumlov is derived from the German „Krumme Aue„, which may be translated as „crooked meadow„. The name comes from the natural topography of the town, specifically from the tightly crooked meander of the Vltava river. In Latin documents it was called Crumlovia or Crumlovium. The town was first mentioned in documents from 1253, where Krumlov was called Chrumbonowe. The word „Cesky" simply means Czech, or Bohemian (actually one and the same), as opposed to Moravian or Silesian.( Czech Republic is comprising the historic regions of Bohemia and Moravia, and part of Selesia.)
Now this town is a tourist's dream:)
But by the 1980s, Cesky Krumlov was a haunted, dead town. It came briefly alive only in the summer, when Czechs paddling down the river hopped out of their canoes for a quick Eggenberg beer in one of the town's two pubs. The castle was closed, as the collapsing roof made it unsafe. The overpriced Hotel Ruze was the only hotel in town. Few dared to spend the night anyway. The town had dark streets filled with debris from falling roofs; a reeking, polluted river; and steep hills squeezing it claustrophobically on all sides. Its bizarre castle tower was on the verge of crashing. People could literally smell history here-it breathed at you from the mildew-covered, disintegrating houses. In 1992, Cesky Krumlov was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Tourists began to discover the place, and their money saved the buildings from ruin. Color returned to the facades, and the square took on a cheerful air. The town woke up from a nightmare.
I know that some Czechs feel nostalgic for the Cesky Krumlov of the 1980s: a gloomy town that nevertheless had the power to bewitch. Today, although much care is put into preserving the town's old buildings, little goes into saving its spirit. And I understand them, epeccially when i'm looking at the photos of Mir Caste in Belarus, whicg made by me and my father 7 or 8 years ago.
So i'll be glad to read any opinions and comments:)
Thanx:) |
Jeppo, BeBeHooker has marked this note useful
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