Feb 20th, 2017: Bear Moat

[xoxoxoBruce]

The historic Český Krumlov Castle in the Czech Republic, was built in the mid-13th century by the powerful
Rosenberg family. It’s the second largest castle in the Czech Republic, on a rocky promontory with the Vltava
river on one side and the Polečnice stream on the other. The castle complex contains forty buildings and
palaces, five castle courts, a large rococo garden, and a bridge over a deep gap in the rock it was built on.
There were lots of bears around like free range guards.



The Rosenberg family were forced to sell the castle to the Romans in 1601. The protective moat between the
first and the second courtyards was dug at the beginning of the 17th century and the bears installed in the
last half of the 17th century.



From the first record in 1707, Bears were kept in the moat throughout most of the 18th century. There were
two long gaps in the 19th and early-20th century, when the moat remained empty. In 1907, bears returned
to the moat, and since then, the moat has never been bear-free.



Every year at Christmas and on the bears’ birthdays, the castle operators organize bear festivals. The moat
is festively decorated and there are piles of presents and food for the bears. The bears and these festivals
are very popular among children visitors of the castle.
I don’t think the bears get a vote.

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