Český Krumlov in winter . . .

I consider Krumlov to be the most magical in winter, especially when the city is coated in snow and the edges of the Vltava river are crusted with ice. The Christmas decorations, trees in the streets and candles in windows give the town a delightful charm. The streets smell of mulled wine spices, and you can buy hot rum and hot chocolate throughout the city.

The town’s main square hosts a holiday market that offers a range of crafts for sale, with fires burning in iron pits for those who need to warm numb fingers. Lovers of music and carols can enjoy one of many holiday concerts. And those who stay until Christmas will certainly be pleased with the spectacular annual Christmas Eve performance in the main square, which includes a live Nativity scene.The Castle Museum and most other museums in town are open throughout the winter. After the new year, traffic gradually fades, and January and February are months of peace and rest in the city, which is awakened again during the first days of spring to another cycle of seasons.