Bohemian Karst. The most beautiful views in Central Bohemia

• The Czech Karst is located 30 km south of Prague
• It is a fascinating place in Central Europe, offering stunning views
• The most important attractions are: St. John's Wall (paid parking), Grand Canyon (paid parking), Konepruskie Caves (free parking), Karlstejn Castle (paid parking)
• Larger city nearby is Beroun

Did you know that beyond our southern border there is one of the most fascinating places in Europe? The Bohemian Karst Landscape Park, located 30 km from Prague, is a land full of geological wonders that delight both nature lovers and adventurers! Can you believe that this land began in a warm sea 400 million years ago? The Czech Karst turned out to be very close to my heart, after all, it's almost like our Jura!

Czech Karst attractions, or what is worth seeing in a landscape park?

The Bohemian Karst Landscape Park stretching around the city of Beroun, or Verona, is a beautiful corner with a limestone landscape. Amazing rocks, not very dense forests intertwine here, and everything is connected by the Berounka River, like a canyon. Yes, the Czech Republic has its Grand Canyon, plus caves and rock walls! See the best attractions of the Bohemian Karst Park!

Grand Canyon in the Czech Karst Park

Did you know that the Czechs have their Grand Canyon? It is only 4 km from Karlstejn Castle. It enchants "world" quarries: Small and Great America, Mexico or Canada! The most impressive is the one called Greater America, which offers a didactic path. It was nice to walk among them, with unearthly views like birds above the rocks!

Koneprusie Caves in the Czech Karst

I wouldn't be myself if we hadn't gone down into those rocks. Inside the picturesque hill with the graceful name Golden Horse, ploughed by man to extract rock wealth, there are exceptionally beautiful Konepruskie Caves, available for guided tours for a fee. This is the largest known underground system in the Czech Republic, make no mistake, it is about the historical land of the Czech Republic, not the entire Czech Republic. In any case, they are powerful, and although only a 620-meter long fragment has been made available for viewing, it is enough to admire them and enjoy the natural decoration in the form of calcite infiltrates. The most valuable and oldest of them are the so-called Koněprusy Roses. It was created when the  Czech Republic had a tropical climate. Imagine crossing these dark corridors with just a torch. There is such a possibility, and I have chills at the very thought.

The caves were discovered by employees of a nearby quarry in 1950. They systematically learned about subsequent fragments of underground corridors. As a result of the research, animal remains were discovered in the cave. Currently, the most interesting inhabitants of the caves are bats. But it is also interesting that in the Middle Ages there was a secret mint in which silver Hussite pennies with the image of a Czech lion were counterfeited.

The oldest European in the Koneprusy Caves!

A sensational discovery here were human bones belonging to the species Homo sapiens, from about 13,000 years ago. The bones belonged to an approximately 46-year-old woman, buried in one of the cave chimneys. Most likely, her grave was much higher, and the bones fell to the bottom. She is considered to be the first known European woman!

Golden Horse Hill, Quarry and Museum

At the entrance to the cave, the path leads to the top of the Golden Horse hill, with a height of 475.3 m above sea level. There is a beautiful view of all four sides of the world, and a few hundred meters further by the wooden barriers you can take a look at the spectacularly presented quarry. A didactic path leads here. About 400 meters from the entrance to the cave there is a free car park and a small museum about the region and the underground.

St John's Rock Wall

It was here that we discovered the most beautiful view in Central Bohemia. The last one, resembling our Jurassic ones, towers over the former abbey in the town of Svatý Jan pod Skalou. When you stand in the parking lot, it seems to you that the rock is impregnable, or at least not for you. Nothing could be more wrong, she immediately reminded me of Sokolica in the Będkowska Valley. Here, too, along the path behind the rock, you will reach the very top, under the cross, quite quickly and efficiently. It took us 20 minutes and we stood on the roof of the area, with a beautiful view around, at an altitude of just over 300 m above sea level.
And who will tell me that these are not familiar sights?

Karlstejn Castle, the most magnificent castle in the Czech Republic

Karlstejn Castle was built in the Middle Ages as the greatest summer residence in the world. In the fourteenth century, it was built by King Charles IV. This is the same ruler for whom the famous Charles Bridge in Prague was built. Both buildings are famous all over the world and arouse a lot of emotions, and the residence in Karlstejn has grown today to the rank of the most magnificent castle in the Czech Republic. It is available for tourists for a fee and is very popular. The most valuable fragment is the chapel in the Great Tower, but it is not included in the basic tour. It is also not possible to take photos in it. Tickets are best bought online, in advance, for a specific time and guide in the language of your choice. There was no Polish language. In the center of the village there is a paid car park, from where you have to climb a few hundred meters slightly uphill.

The City of Beroun

Verona, because it is the Latin equivalent of the Czech city of Beroun, is an interesting resort in the heart of the Czech Karst. The city is famous for its ceramics and bears. Twice a year, pottery fairs are held on this main market in spring and autumn. It's certainly an interesting event. Throughout the year, it invites a nicely arranged ceramics museum. In the park, however, with a bit of luck, you will see two brown brothers in the bear shop. We did not manage to find them, apparently they slept in their cottage, because it was hot. We ran away from the heat to the American-style Black Dog pub, which serves delicious burgers or BBQ ribs.

Accommodations in and around Beroun

While exploring the area, we slept in the beautifully located Farm Krkavčí Hora Nižbor. It is a place for horse lovers, but of course not only. Away from civilization, among fields and meadows. There is a stable with horses outside the accommodation. It is a former farmhouse, beautifully revitalized. The guest rooms are located in a new building, the rooms are modestly furnished, but they are very clean, spacious and offer what you need, i.e. a private bathroom and a wide bed. There are also breakfasts and a fully equipped kitchen where you can even cook lunches. The place is worth recommending.

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.

Legend of treasures

As the story goes, a greedy noblewoman once lived here. She wanted to snatch the hidden treasure from the rocks, but it was guarded by a ghost. He could offer wealth only to one who had golden hair and an iron hand. The woman ordered the servants to make her a wig and an iron glove. She rode on horseback among the rock, and no one had heard of her. Concerned, the noblewoman's servant and her fiancé moved to her aid. They found her sitting rigidly on a horse, for the deceived and angry ghost had turned her into gold. But he gave the young couple a generous gift, because the girl was golden-haired, and her beloved had an iron hand thanks to his strength.

Experiences in the area

In the immediate vicinity, it is also worth visiting the town of Tetin or the Nizbor castle. North of Prague stretches the beautiful and unpopular rock city of Kokorinsko with Devil's Heads and Lids, and east of Prague I recommend the stunning Kutna Hora, or the Czech Silver City.

We visited the Czech Karst in cooperation with the Czech Tourist Organization. Thank you so much for inviting us.

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What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• Koneprusie Caves in the Czech Republic, distance: 0.1  km
• Beroun, distance: 5.4  km
• Karlstejn Castle, distance: 8.9  km
• Hradčany in Prague, distance: 30.7  km
• Prague, distance: 31.5  km
• Rock city in the Czech Republic. Kokorinsko, distance: 62.8  km
• Kladruby, distance: 81.1  km
• Kolin, distance: 81.9  km
• Central Bohemia, distance: 85.6  km
• Kutna Hora, distance: 85.6  km