Český Krumlov — Schwarzenberg Baroque Secret
Uncover the hidden Baroque conspiracy of the Schwarzenberg princes. Decode their secret codes hidden in castle suites, theatre machinery, and gardens to expose a forbidden intrigue that threatened their dynasty.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the opulent shadows of 18th-century Český Krumlov, Prince Joseph Adam von Schwarzenberg rebuilt the castle's Baroque Theatre in 1766, not just for spectacle, but to conceal a dangerous family secre
Český Krumlov — Schwarzenberg Baroque Secret
You are an imperial archivist, dispatched in 1719 by Charles VI of Habsburg to inventory the Schwarzenberg assets in Český Krumlov.
Your mission: find traces of the
Uncover the mysteries of the Schwarzenberg dynasty in the secret gardens and baroque theaters of Český Krumlov castle.
« Krumlov is the most beautiful city in Bohemia after Prague, and its castle rivals that of Versailles. »— Josef Adam zu Schwarzenberg, letter to Emperor Joseph II, 1784
The story that haunts this land
Český Krumlov becomes Schwarzenberg property in 1719, when Adam Franz II buys the estate from the ruined Eggenberg family. This Austrian princely family, originally from Franconia, transforms the medieval castle into a baroque residence worthy of Versailles. Your investigation begins at Předzámčí, the 14th-century fortified forecourt where the Schwarzenbergs establish their family archives. The Renaissance round towers, added around 1580 by Wilhelm von Rosenberg, hide in their walls the safes where the dynasty's secret testaments rest.
The main castle reveals the scope of Schwarzenberg ambitions in Bohemia. Johann Nepomuk zu Schwarzenberg has the apartments redecorated around 1748 in Viennese rococo taste, with gilded stucco and ceilings painted by Josef Lederer. In the Mask Hall, trompe-l'oeil frescoes conceal secret passages used by Maria Theresa of Austria's spies. The Plášťový bridge-gallery, built in 1683, connects the princely apartments to the baroque theater via a 30-meter corridor suspended above the moats.
The terraced gardens of Zámecká zahrada constitute the Schwarzenbergs' baroque jewel. Laid out between 1748 and 1754 by Dominik Andreas Vaccani, Italian architect, they spread over 11 hectares of French-style parterres and English groves. The central fountain of Zámecká fontána, adorned with Neptune and tritons sculpted by Ignác Platzer, hides in its hydraulic mechanism a code system that the Schwarzenbergs used for their secret correspondence with Vienna.
The baroque theater of Zámecké divadlo, inaugurated in 1767, remains one of three 18th-century theaters preserved intact in Europe. Josef Adam zu Schwarzenberg has Mozart's operas performed there from 1787, three years before Prague. The 540 period costumes and canvas-painted sets reveal the aristocratic art of living in Bohemia. In the princely boxes, secret mechanisms allowed the Schwarzenbergs to communicate with their agents without being seen from the hall.
Your journey ends at Medvědí příkop, the bear pit dug in 1707 by Johann Christian I zu Schwarzenberg. This family tradition, inherited from the lords of Krumlov, symbolizes seigneurial power in central Bohemia. The last bear dies in 1962, but the Schwarzenbergs keep their secret archives in the Latrán cellars until 1945. You leave with the key to three centuries of European aristocratic history, where Český Krumlov served as a bridge between Vienna, Prague and the German courts.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Baroque Scenery
Explore the architectural splendor of a golden age, from gardens to ornate facades.
Guardians of History
Follow the trail of animal symbols and ancestral legends linked to the Schwarzenbergs.
Dynasty Secrets
Unravel the threads of a plot of power and artistic patronage that shaped Bohemia.
Pierce the veil of time, where bears guard the secrets of Baroque princes.
A historical epic in the heart of Bohemia.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Uncover the mysteries of the Schwarzenberg dynasty in the secret gardens and baroque theaters of Český Krumlov castle.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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