House of Egon Schiele

The House of Egon Schiele stands in Plešivec, a quiet quarter of Český Krumlov perched on a peninsula formed by a bend of the Vltava, directly across the river from the historic old town and castle. It was here that the Austrian painter set up a studio in the early 1910s and lived through one of the most turbulent chapters of his short life.

Why did Schiele end up in Krumlov?

The painter's connection to the town wasn't accidental. His mother, Marie Schiele (née Soukupová), came from Krumlov and had lived for years in a house on what is now Parkán Street, close to the centre. For Egon, the town on the Vltava was something of a family retreat — its gently decaying gothic and renaissance streets offered an escape from the bustle of Vienna. It was in Plešivec, tucked away from the watchful eyes of the old town's bourgeois society, that he rented a house and turned it into his working studio.

The scandal that drove him out

Early twentieth-century Krumlov was a conservative small town, and Schiele's lifestyle quickly stirred resentment among the locals. He lived in the Plešivec house openly with his partner and model, Wally Neuzil, without the protection of marriage, and he also invited young local women to pose for him. His bold, expressive nudes caused as much outrage as the unmarried relationship itself. Tension built until the townspeople made it clear he was no longer welcome, and within months he was forced to leave. Short as it was, the episode left a lasting mark on his art — the town's tangle of red roofs and narrow lanes kept resurfacing in his later paintings, feeding into the moody urban visions now often grouped under the title "Dead City."

What can you actually see today?

The building itself in Plešivec is a modest, historic residential house — a quiet witness to an episode that has since become one of the key stops on Krumlov's Schiele heritage trail. It appeals most to visitors interested in art history and biography, people looking for the real backdrop behind the paintings rather than a polished museum display. It's worth pairing a walk through Plešivec with a visit to the Egon Schiele Art Centrum, housed in a former brewery near the old town, which holds the permanent collection of his works and tells the fuller story of his relationship with the town.

How do you get there?

Plešivec is within easy walking distance of Krumlov Castle and the main square — just cross the bridge over the Vltava and head down toward the riverbank on the side opposite the old town. The quarter has kept a low-key, residential character largely untouched by tourism, making the walk a good way to see the town from a more authentic angle than the crowded lanes of the centre.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early autumn are ideal, when Krumlov itself sees fewer crowds than the peak summer months and the quiet streets of Plešivec can be explored at leisure. The quarter is accessible year-round, since it's an ordinary part of the town rather than a ticketed attraction with fixed opening hours.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the house? The building serves a residential function and stands as a historic marker in a public street — it isn't a museum with regular opening hours. For a full collection dedicated to Schiele, visit the Egon Schiele Art Centrum in the town centre.

Why was Schiele forced to leave Krumlov? Conservative locals objected to his unmarried relationship with Wally Neuzil and to the young women posing nude in his studio — social pressure pushed him out after a few months.

Did Schiele have any other connection to the town besides the studio? Yes — his mother was born and raised in Krumlov, so his family ties to the town ran deeper than the studio episode alone; they're actually what brought him there in the first place.

How long does it take to see the area? Walking through Plešivec and viewing the house from outside takes about 20-30 minutes, but it's worth allowing extra time to cross the bridge and take in the castle view from this side of the river.