Bohemian Paradise - the fabulous rock town of Hruboskalsko with castles Hrubá Skála and Valdštejn

Bohemian Paradise is a place as if deliberately designed for lovers of spectacular landscapes. Fancy sandstone towers, narrow passages between the rocks, romantic castle ruins and viewpoints from which you can admire otherworldly landscapes. It is a real paradise for rock lovers, and the most popular here is the rock town of Hruboskalsko. Wonder! We passed through them with a loop of 8 km, visiting two castles with medieval roots along the way. The route starts at the Hrubá Skála castle and then enters the mysterious labyrinth of rock spires. It then leads to the magnificent Valdštejn Castle and through spectacular viewpoints winds a loop in the parking lot. It's an unforgettable day full of excitement. The whole tour of the castles took us about 5 hours. Check out our guide to the rock city of Hruboskalsko in the Bohemian Paradise!

Bohemian Paradise - Hruboskalsko Rock Town - location, access and parking

Czech Paradise is located in the northern part of the Czech Republic, in the Liberec region. The rock town of Hruboskalsko stretches slightly south of the town of Turnov, between the castle of Hrubá Skála and the village of Sedmihorky. You can easily get here by car, e.g. from Liberec, following the E442 road. It's only a 1.5-hour drive from Szklarska Poręba, so it's a perfect idea even for a day trip from Poland or a pleasant weekend getaway. There is a paid car park at the Hrubá Skála Castle. This is where the route to the rock city begins, but first you can visit the castle next to it for a fee, but inexpensively. You will be amazed by the views right here, and there is also a restaurant.

It is worth remembering that the Bohemian Paradise is a very popular tourist region. On sunny weekends, parking lots at the most popular attractions can fill up quickly, so it's best to arrive relatively early.

Hrubá Skála Castle

It is worth joining it by the way. It is a beautiful building. Hrubá Skála Castle was built in the 14th century by the Wallenstein family. Once it was a fortress controlling trade routes. In the nineteenth century, its role changed, then it was rebuilt in the Neo-Renaissance style. It currently houses a hotel and a restaurant, but can also be visited.For a fee, you can explore the courtyard and the tower, which provides a magnificent panorama of rock spires. Interestingly, according to local legend, one of the towers of the castle hid the Templar treasure, but to this day no one has found the entrance to the underground corridor.

Loop through the rock town of Hruboskalsko - loop 8 km from the Hrubá Skála car park

The rock town of Hruboskalsko is free of charge. The route begins right next to the parking lot, where a green trail among the rocks immediately appears and we almost immediately enter the Mouse Hole - Myší díra. So Hruboskalsko impresses at the outset. It's mysterious, a bit dark, and the rocks rise high above our heads. The rock labyrinth creates a landscape composed of more than 400 sandstone towers and spires that rise up to 60 meters. Formed as a result of soft sandstone erosion. Hruboskalsko is an important centre of traditional sandstone climbing. But it is worth being careful, because sandstone is delicate here, which is why climbers are mainly protected by knots and loops placed in natural cracks and use permanently embedded rings. Climbing on damp rocks is prohibited for up to 48 hours after rainfall.

Viewpoint Mariánská vyhlídka

Very quickly, the first spectacular Mariánská vyhlídka vantage point appears on the route. You have to climb it on a low wooden ladder. In return, we see a wide panorama with powerful rocks, the Hruba Skala castle on the front and the majestic and lofty ruins of the Trosky castle in the background.

This place is surrounded by a stone city, among densely scattered towers, which is very attractive and is a great fun for both adults and children. Later, the route begins to resemble more Jurassic landscapes with single rocks and a comfortable path.

Valdštejn Castle - the oldest castle of the Bohemian Paradise

After about 5 km, Valdštejn Castle - the oldest castle of the Bohemian Paradise - rises in front of us. And it is available for a fee, and you can also penetrate its interesting corners on your own, without a guide. It is worth going through the Baroque chapel of St. John of Nepomuk with sculptures of Saints, including Wojciech and Ludmila. The neo-gothic part offers a nice view of the spires and the surrounding area. Valdštejn Castle was built around 1260 on three sandstone rocks, and was founded by Jaroslav of Hruštice from the Markvartice family. He is the ancestor of the later lords of Valdštejn, from whom the famous Albrecht von Wallenstein came, who wrote well in the history of Liberec. The stronghold was built in a naturally defensive place, the three rock pillars were connected by wooden bridges and access to the castle was possible only through a narrow path. Today, wooden bridges have replaced stone ones. Interestingly, in the Baroque era, the castle became a place of pilgrimage, and in the nineteenth century romantic ruins attracted Czech romantics. The aristocrats from nearby Turnov organized concerts and picnics of artists here. At that time, neo-Gothic elements were created, today adding charm and mystery to this place.

Return to the parking lot and spectacular viewpoints at U Lvíček and Na Kapelu

The return from the castle to the car park is a quiet walk of 3 km. But, but, there are 2 more spectacular viewpoints along the way. Truly stunning, the best on the entire route and the most beautiful we have seen so far in Czech rock towns, even in Adršpach you will not experience such. First, there is the U Lvíček point, the view from the rock is simply breathtaking. If you are brave enough, you can climb a rock where you can really feel like in paradise. Be extremely careful. Right next to it is a metal footbridge, which also gives an extremely pleasant aesthetic experience. A little further is another vantage point Na Kapelu. Here you will also be delighted by the panorama.

Arboretum Bukovina

Almost in front of the car park, there is another free attraction. This is the Bukovina Arboretum - a historic dendrological park, located in the heart of the rock town of Hruboskalsko in the Bohemian Paradise. It lies on the Red Trail and was founded in 1860-62. You will see interesting, valuable trees, even imported from other continents. It is small, but it is an interesting experience to go through this natural treasure. Slightly tired but completely dissatisfied, we reached the parking lot.

The rock city of Hruboskalsko in numbers. Route map

• Route length: 8 km
• Walking time with sightseeing of castles: about 5 hours
• Parking Hrubá Skála: 120 crowns
• Hrubá Skála Castle: 50 crowns
• Wallenstein Castle: 150 crowns
• Address: Hrubá Skála, Turnov 1

Castle of Trosky in the Bohemian Paradise

Trosky Castle is themost recognizable castle in the whole Bohemian Paradise. He is haughty and extremely distinctive. It is because of its two towers – Baba and Panna, which stand on two basalt cones of the former volcano. They create a silhouette so specific that it has become a showcase of the region. The castle was built in the 14th century on the initiative of Čeník of Vartemberk. After the expulsion of the Swedes in the 17th century, the stronghold burned down and was never rebuilt. The ruins are a ruin, there are no halls or other interiors. The tour consists of entering the viewing platforms and passing between the rocks. As a result, the whole takes about 15 minutes. However, the views are so spectacular that you will definitely spend more time here.

Hruboskalsko with children – is it a good idea?

Definitely yes. The loop through Hruboskalsko is a very interesting proposition for families, although it should be remembered that this is a mountain route, not a walk in a flat park. You need good shoes and a drink supply. Also take care of the safety of children on the rocks, because they can pose a threat. Children will certainly like the form of the rock city above all. Narrow passages, stairs, ladders, rocks rising overhead and further viewpoints make a simple hike here a real adventure.

When is the best time to visit Hruboskalsko?

The Czech Paradise is attractive all year round, but each season has a slightly different character here. Spring brings fresh greenery and fewer tourists. Summer is the safest weather for long hikes, but also the largest traffic on trails and parking lots. Autumn can be downright spectacular – the colorful leaves contrast with the bright walls of sandstone. Winter, on the other hand, gives a completely different, harsher look to the rock city. Special care must be taken after rainfall. Sandstone is a delicate and brittle material, and some parts of the trails may be slippery.

What else is worth seeing in the Bohemian Paradise?

Hruboskalsko is just the beginning of the adventure. If you have more time, there are plenty of other things to do in the region:

• Prachovské skály, or Prachov Rocks – one of the most famous rock areas in the Czech Republic. Like Hruboskalsko, they form an unusual labyrinth of sandstone towers
• Kost Castle - one of the best preserved medieval strongholds in the Czech Republic
• Turnov - the gateway to the Bohemian Paradise, a good place to walk and learn about the history of the region
• Vyskeř Way of the Cross - ayear-old place, beautiful view of the chapel of St. Anne from below and the landscape of the Bohemian Paradise from above

Czech Paradise – is it worth it? Perfect weekend idea

The unique feature of Czech Paradise is that it is difficult to get bored with it. You can come here for a day and go through the loop through Hruboskalsko, but you can also stay for the whole weekend or a few days. One day it is worth taking a rock city and two castles, the next day you should go to Trosky or Prachov Rocks, and in the evening relax in one of the small Czech towns. Everything is so close to each other that you can easily arrange subsequent trips. If you like rock landscapes, Hruboskalsko should be high on your list of places to see in the Czech Republic. This is one of those corners where the route itself is an attraction. There is no need to wait for a spectacular finale – the first rocks, the Mouse Hole, subsequent viewpoints and paths leading between huge sandstone towers are already enchanting. And if we add two medieval castles – Hrubá Skála and Valdštejn, we have a real firecracker. 8 kilometers, about 5 hours, two castles, hundreds of rock towers and some really spectacular panoramas. It is hard to think of a better idea for an active day in the northern Czech Republic. Czech Paradise definitely deserves its name.

Accommodation

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you have already visited this attraction, it is also worth visiting several other interesting ones places nearby. Within a radius of 100 kilometers you will find many interesting places places that can diversify your stay in this part of Poland.

• Sky Walk Tower in Świeradów Zdrój, distance: 40.8  km
• Czocha Castle, distance: 54.6  km
• Colorful Rudawy Janowickie Lakes, distance: 63.4  km
• Tower on Dzikowiec, distance: 74.4  km
• Bolków Castle, distance: 76.2  km
• Castle of Pigs, distance: 78.2  km
• Szczeliniec Wielki, distance: 81.5  km
• Książ Castle, distance: 84.2  km
• Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie, distance: 88.8  km
• Church of Peace in Świdnica, distance: 97.4  km