Throughout our time in the Czech Republic, we had the opportunity to view marvels of architecture, engineering, and urban planning that have existed for many centuries, but none impressed me more than Český Krumlov. The town is a marvel preservation of the medieval ages complete with a riverfront town overlooked by the second largest castle complex in the world complete with its own bear moat. First believed to be erected before the year 1250, the castle saw many rulers, additions, and renovations that turned it into one of the most beautiful and finely decorated “museums” in the Czech Republic.
Witnessing all of this cultural beauty, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the pristine condition of the town despite it being such a popular tourist destination. With tours offered in several languages, the Czech Republic encourages tourism without sacrificing the preservation of their cultural sites. On the premises of the castle, there are a multitude of highly trained and knowledgeable preservation workers and historians that make a concerted effort to ensure that the guests have an enriching experience while not causing any damage to the site. While there are similar efforts in the United States to preserve national parks and other important monuments, it is incredibly important that we continue to fund these efforts while our country is so young. As the United States continues to grow and age, it is important that we continue to foster the education and preservation of our historical sites, and take a lesson from the Czech Republic and their approach to tourism.
Swanson School of Engineering 