Rock Town in the Czech Republic with Devil's Heads, Lids and Kokorin Castle. Kokořínsko Landscape Park

Name: Rock city in the Czech Republic. Kokorinsko
Rating: 5

Kokorinsko is a beautiful and untrodden rock city in the Czech Republic
It lies about 40 km north of Prague and about 80 km from the Polish border
The most beautiful and popular attractions are Devil's Heads and Lids available for free
You have to walk a few hundred meters from the car park, the one by the Heads is paid
It is worth visiting the gothic Kokorin castle available for a fee
You also have to walk a few hundred meters uphill from the paid parking lot

Do you like rock cities? Do you dream of escaping from the city and an adventure in the style of Indiana Jones? Pack your backpack and head to the Kokorinsko Landscape Park. This rock city will surely fulfill these desires! Located about 40 km north of Prague and 80 km from the border with Poland, it delights with powerful sandstone rocks, creating an amazing rock labyrinth, about which in Poland still few people have heard!

Attractions of the Rock City of Kokorinsko, what is worth seeing here?

This beautiful landscape park tempts with its unusual sandstone formations, unique rock reliefs, enchanting lakes and deep forests. The real pearl is one of the most romantic Czech castles – Kokořín Castle. See the best attractions of the rock city of Kokorinsko!

Devil Heads (Certovy heads) to climb!

Devil's Heads is another hit of our trip to Central Bohemia. These rock sculptures are absolutely unique and completely secluded. We made a picturesque 9 km loop here on foot, but if you don't want to walk, you can cut it in half and see the most beautiful things, or just approach the Devil's Heads themselves. It is just 0.5 km along the blue trail from the parking lot in Żelizy. In my opinion, the carved formations are the most interesting element of this Park.

We started with Certovych's heads. Where did they come from? Well, first there were the aforementioned sandstones, wonderful outcasts in yellow, which were then carved by the cook of the nearby castle in Libechov, Václav Levý, in the mid-nineteenth century. Something amazing. It's like Mount Rushmore in a thumbnail. The approach to the rocks is easy, and then literally a moment, 2 quite difficult moments (I do not recommend with children) and we jumped on their bald spot!

Klacelka Cave, Harfenice and Had, fantastic rock sculptures

Further along the route, there were other carved rock groups and the Klacelka cave, unfortunately available for a fee at selected times. I liked the rock reliefs called Harfenice the most. Next, it is worth approaching the rock of the Snake with a carved reptile. You can follow a pleasant trail through the charming village of Tupadly to complete the loop, as we did, but there are no carved rocks in this fragment. From Harfenic you can easily return along the yellow trail to the parking lot in Żelizy. Our loop can also be overcome on bicycles, but then we avoid Head and Klacelka a bit.

Practical information:

Devil's Heads are located about 500 m from the center of Żelizy, on the blue trail
We started the 9 km long loop in Żelizy
We parked free of charge in the very centre. There is no specific car park here, we managed to park on the side of the road
You can shorten the route by returning to the parking lot along the yellow trail under the rocks called Harfenice
Klacelka Cave is barred, available for a fee, at designated hours

Lids (Poklicky) - giant kitchen in Kokořinsko

Lids are even more popular creations of the Kokořinsko Landscape Park. It is worth a visit, because they are a symbol of this place. I admit that I thought that this kitchen of giants was bigger, but not that I am not satisfied with the size of the outcasts. Oh no. I just thought there were a little more lids and they were easier to see. They get a little lost in the forest, but it's a real sensation! They were created as a result of weathering and look like giant mushrooms. They are 12 meters high. Why are the lids, or specific hats, larger than the poles on which they lie? Because they contain a lot of iron and thus resisted the weathering processes more. Unfortunately, there will definitely come a time when the lid will fall off. Luckily, we made it ahead of time, did you?

We wouldn't be ourselves if we stopped there. We made a loop about 5 km long, meeting other interesting rock formations of the city and returning through a dark and quite narrow rock gorge, with a wet bottom. As it was sunset time, the place was mysterious and even a little scary. In places, trees paved the path, and puddles and mud made us have to exercise. It was an interesting adventure.

Practical information:

Parking: the car is best left in a paid forest parking lot, north of Kokorin.
The blue trail takes about 15 minutes to reach you from the car park. It is also worth going a little higher to the vantage point, from where the rock mushrooms look more interesting.
Loop 5 km: from the Lidki, continue along the blue trail, initially through the forest, then additionally among the rocks, until the yellow trail, which we took back to return through a narrow rock gorge
If you do not have time for the whole loop, I recommend entering the Lid, then descending to the parking lot and entering the second path next to it, which will quickly lead you to this rock gorge. It's a pity not to experience this atmosphere!

Kokorin Castle - Romantic Cursed Castle

Kokorin Castle is a beautifully located stronghold with an interesting silhouette and a rich history. She immediately brought to mind Chojnik Castle in the Giant Mountains. This Czech castle also stood in the Middle Ages. Destroyed during the Hussite wars, he waited a long time for better times. And why? Here begins a gloomy story, because after the destruction during the Thirty Years' War, he was entered by the Austrian emperor, Ferdinand, on the list of "cursed castles". He forbade to rebuild it in this way, because it had such strategic positions that it could pose a threat to the ruler. At that time, the abandoned ruins of the castle became a refuge for robbers who for years plagued the area with plundering expeditions.

Practical information:

The castle is restored and made available for sightseeing behind the tickets
You can enter almost every corner of the fortress, and the castle tower also offers a beautiful view.
There is a paid parking lot at the bottom, 100 kc
You have to climb to the castle on foot about 400 m

Rock city attractions that we have not visited, and we know that it is worth

Houska Castle
Yellow marked Cinibulkova Path (Cinibulkova Trail)
Bludiste rock labyrinth with Tutankhamun on the Cinibulkova path

Other rock towns in the Czech Republic - Adrspach, Czech Switzerland or Czech Paradise

If you like rock spires and rocks with fancy shapes, then I also recommend other Czech rock cities. The most popular one is Adrspach, located near the Polish border. You can get there, for example, from the Polish town of Mieroszów. On the Polish side, similar formations, but you will find more modest ones in nearby Gorzeszów in Lower Silesia. They are called Dwarf Boulders. Czech Paradise and Czech Switzerland will also be an interesting place. The latter is an incredibly beautiful national park with rock labyrinths, located in the west of the country.

Other things to do in the area

In addition, in the area, just south of Prague, I recommend visiting theCzech Karst with beautiful views, picturesque quarries and the largest cave system in this part of the Czech Republic. A hit of this region is the magnificent Karlstejn Castle. More to the east, however, was Kutna Hora - a wonderful Silver City that delighted us!

We visited Central Bohemia 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?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

Prague, distance: 37.2 km
Karlstejn Castle, distance: 57 km
Czech Karst, distance: 62.8 km
Kolin, distance: 68.2 km
Kutna Hora, distance: 77.6 km
Central Bohemia, distance: 77.7 km
Sky Walk Tower in Świeradów Zdrój, distance: 81.4 km
Świeradów Zdrój, distance: 81.8 km
Czocha Castle, distance: 89.9 km
Chojnik Castle, distance: 95 km