Trosky is unique. A gothic fortress built on top of twin towers of solidified lava, it stands proud as the symbol of the Český ráj region. Its silhouette is visible far and wide, and not just in the surrounding countryside but on every conceivable tourist souvenir in gift shops across the country.

Two pillars of magma erupted from the earth around 30 million years ago, at a time of intense seismic activity that preceded the birth of the Alps. The lava burst through layers of sandstone laid down in the late Cretaceous period (see the Geology page for more detail) nearly reaching the surface. It took several more million years for the dark twisted basalt towers to be exposed to daylight, as the topmost layers of sandstone and clay were slowly eroded away.

In the late 14th century the count of Vartenberg decided to use Trosky’s unique defensive position to build an impressively strong fortress. So strong that in the following centuries it was never captured by a military force. The castle fell into disuse at the end of the 15th century, but today remains one of Český raj’s most visited attractions.

For more on Trosky’s history see here.