Český Krumlov District is the southernmost Czech district, bordering Austria in the south. The relief is very varied and goes from mountainous areas in the south to a relatively flat landscape in the northeast, with high average elevations. The territory extends into four geomorphological mesoregions: Bohemian Forest Foothills (most of the territory), Bohemian Forest (southwest), Gratzen Mountains (southeast) and Gratzen Foothills (a strip running from northeast to south). The highest point of the district is the mountain Smrčina in Horní Planá with an elevation of 1,333 m (4,373 ft), the lowest point is the river bed of the Vltava in Křemže at 418 m (1,371 ft).
From the total district area of 1,613.7 km2 (623.1 sq mi), agricultural land occupies 568.0 km2 (219.3 sq mi), forests occupy 788.6 km2 (304.5 sq mi), and water area occupies 72.6 km2 (28.0 sq mi). Forests cover 48.9% of the district's area.[1]
The most important river is the Vltava, which flows from west to southeast and then turns north. The eastern part of the territory is drained by the Malše, a tributary of the Vltava. Although there are not many bodies of water here, the Lipno Reservoir is built on the Vltava, which is the largest body of water in the Czech Republic.
The west of the territory is protected within the Šumava Protected Landscape Area, the easternmost edge of the Šumava National Park also reaches here in a small part. In the north there is the Blanský Les Protected Landscape Area.
There are no motorways in the district. The most important road is the I/3 road, which leads from České Budějovice to the border with Austria and is part of the European route E55.
Sights
Český Krumlov Castle
The historic centre of Český Krumlov was designated a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 1992 because of its well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.[6]
