The arcades arrive before the castle. On Telč’s long triangular square, a succession of gables, painted walls and sheltered passageways makes it tempting to stop every few steps. Yet this small town in the Czech Republic’s Vysočina region is more than a handsome façade. Behind the houses, ponds and surviving gateways reveal how water, trade and noble ambition shaped the place.
Telč is best approached slowly. Take the time to look along the arcades, leave the square for the water’s edge, and return to see how the light changes the houses. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992; the distinction recognises an urban ensemble, not a single monument.
