Lazebnický most, the Barber's Bridge, is the short wooden-decked bridge that carries the main walking route of Český Krumlov across the Vltava, between the Latrán quarter below the castle and the inner town around the main square. It is named after the old bathhouse at its Latrán end, and it gives one of the best views in town of the painted castle tower rising above the river.
Lazebnický Bridge at a glance
- Where: across the Vltava, linking Latrán street on the castle side with Radniční street, which leads to Náměstí Svornosti, the main square.
- Built: rebuilt in 1835 after ice floes badly damaged the earlier bridge in 1830; the steel structure dated from the 1950s and was replaced in a full reconstruction in 2024.
- What it is today: a pedestrian bridge on the busiest route through the UNESCO-listed historic centre, with a statue of St John of Nepomuk and a crucifix in the middle.
- Time needed: 5–10 minutes, longer if you stop for photos of the castle.
From bathhouse crossing to rebuilt bridge
The bridge takes its name from the house at Latrán No. 1, still known as the bathhouse. Mentioned as early as 1347, it was run by bath-keepers and barber-surgeons (lazebník in Czech) from at least the 16th century until the early 1800s. Nearby stood the Latrán Gate, first recorded in 1459, which was torn down when the bridge was rebuilt in 1835 after the ice damage of 1830.
In the 20th century the bridge got a steel load-bearing structure with a wooden deck, resting on the old stone abutments. After a partial repair in 2009, rot and wear meant a complete rebuild: the town closed the bridge at the start of 2024, replaced the steel frame and laid a new deck of oak, larch and spruce, keeping only the original stone abutments. It reopened in spring 2024.
What to look for
- The statue of St John of Nepomuk, patron saint of bridges and protector against floods, a fitting guardian for a river that has often risen over its banks here.
- The crucifix that shares the middle of the bridge with the saint.
- The view upstream to the Castle Tower, with its colourful painted decoration, rising above the rooftops and the rock.
- The house at Latrán No. 1 at the castle-side end, the old bathhouse that gave the bridge its name.
- Rafts and canoes passing beneath you in summer, when paddlers float through the old town on the Vltava.
The barber's daughter
The bathhouse is linked to one of the darkest episodes in the town's history. In 1580 the bath-keeper Zikmund Pichler and his wife Lucie bought the house. Their daughter Markéta became the companion of Julius d'Austria, the mentally ill illegitimate son of Emperor Rudolf II, who had been sent to live at Krumlov Castle. On the night of 18 February 1608 he killed her at the castle. This is recorded history, not legend, though the story has since gathered many embellishments in local tales.
Tips for your visit
- Cross early in the morning or in the evening: in the middle of the day the bridge is one of the most crowded spots in town.
- For the classic photo of the Castle Tower over the river, stand on the bridge and look upstream; the light is softest in late afternoon.
- Don't block the walkway when taking pictures; it is narrow and carries almost all foot traffic between castle and square.
- Combine it with a walk up Latrán to the castle courtyards, then back over the bridge to the main square.
Nearby
- Castle Tower: the painted Renaissance tower of Český Krumlov Castle, with views over the whole town from the top.
- Church of St Vitus: the Gothic parish church above the river, whose tower is the other landmark of the skyline.
- Minorite monastery: the monastery complex in Latrán, a short walk from the bridge, with its cloister and church of Corpus Christi.
See Český Krumlov with World City Trail
Our Český Krumlov scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 25 minutes of walking. Lazebnický Bridge is not one of the stops, but the route includes the Castle Tower, the Church of St Vitus and the monastery complex.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Český Krumlov.
Play the Český Krumlov scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Český Krumlov →
Play the outdoor escape game in Český Krumlov →
Facts checked in October 2026.