Albrecht of Valdštejn, the imperial generalissimo, and major political figure during the early 17th century, is arguably the most famous person to be associated closely with Český ráj.
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Apolena
Apolena is the sandstone rock area around Trosky hill. It is essentially a large sandstone plateau ringed by cliffs formed by the surrounding streams.
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Besedické skály
The trails within the relatively unknown Besedické skály are possibly the most colourful and interesting of all the Český ráj rock cities.
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Brada castle
Brada is a medieval castle ruin situated on a rocky spur at the edge of the Prachovské skály rock area. From the Brada viewpoint there are panoramic views over the whole Jičín plain.
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Borek rocks
The Borek rocks are a small, relatively unknown but attractive sandstone ‘rock city’ located to the southeast of Turnov, with excellent views towards Trosky castle.
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Čeněk of Vartenberk
Čeněk of Vartenberk was a prominent member of the noble Markvart family, which controlled most of Český ráj in the 14th century. He played a major role in the 15th century Hussite wars.
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Čertová ruka
Čertová ruka is an ancient fortified site located in centre of the Hrubá Skála rocks. Archaeological finds dating from the Neolithic have been found at the site.
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Dlaskův statek
Dlaskův statek is one of the best examples of ‘folk architecture’ in Český ráj. The timbered farmhouse dates from the 18th century and is located on an attractive stretch of the river Jizera.
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Drábovna
Drábovna is a small ‘rock city’ located near Malá Skála. The sandstone pillars are smaller than in other rock areas, but are still impressive, with some fine examples of mushroom rocks.
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Drábské světničky
Drábské světničky is an intriguing ruined rock castle built in the 14th century. It is located on the rugged Příhrazské skály sandstone cliffs overlooking the Jizera plain.
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Frýdštejn castle
Frýdštejn is a medieval castle situated on top of a sandstone outcrop, which forms part of the Vranov ridge of sandstone that runs from the river Jizera to Frýdštejn.
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Hradiště Hrada
Hrada is an ancient hillfort located on the sandstone plateau of Příhrazské skály. It is potentially the most important strategic location for any of Český ráj hill forts.
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Hradiště Semín
Semín is an intriguing Celtic archaeological site, located on a plateau above the Podtrosecká valley. A reconstruction of a Celtic oppidum fort occupies part of the plateau today.
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Hrubá Skála castle
Hrubá Skála castle was founded in the 14th century by the Valdštejn dynasty. It has a long and interesting history and today houses a private hotel/public restaurant.
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Hrubá Skála rocks
Hrubá Skála is the largest and most famous of the sandstone rock areas in Český ráj. It hosts a number of medieval rock castles, including Valdštejn and Hrubá Skála castle.
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Hrubý Rohozec
Hrubý Rohozec was originally a gothic fortress built near Turnov by the Markvart family in the13th century. It acquired its Renaissance appearance in the 16th century.
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Humprecht
Humprecht was constructed in the 17th century as a hunting lodge by a famous Italian architect. It has a unique form, and dominates the local landscape around Sobotka.
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Hynšta rock fortress
Hynšta is a small, probably 14th century, rock castle located in the centre of the Příhrazské skály. It has an intriguing cave-like rock room to explore.
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Jičín
Jičín, founded in the late 13th century, is the largest town in the region, and has some fine examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, including its famous town square.
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Jizera river
The Jizera river is the main architect of the Český ráj sandstone landscape. The history and pre-history of the region is inextricably tied to this meandering and mid sized river.
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Kavčiny
Kavčiny is a small rock castle located close to the larger Valdštejn castle. Kavčiny was probably constructed to guard the approach to Valdštejn, in the 14th century.
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Klokočské skály
The Klokočské rocks are famous for their spectacular cliff edge views towards the volcanic hill of Kozákov. The area is one of the larger sandstone plateaux, and has a classic cuesta shape.
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Komárovský rybník
Komárovský rybník is the second largest Český ráj lake. It was created as a fish pond sometime in the late Middle Ages, and is today an attractive lake for summer swimming.
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Kopicův statek
Kopicův statek is one of the finest examples of 18th century folk architecture in the region. Below the house is a trail of famous sandstone rock reliefs.
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Kost castle
Kost is the most dramatic and impressive of the Český ráj gothic castles, constructed in the 14th century on a sandstone outcrop, by the Markvart family.
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Kozákov
The Kozákov volcanic hill is the highest point in Český ráj and has dramatic 360° views. The hill has been a source of semi precious volcanic rocks since Neolithic times.
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Kozlov (Chlum)
Kozlov castle was likely founded in the early 14th century by the Markvart family. Little is known of this mysterious place, with many rock rooms to investigate
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Mnichovo Hradiště
The town of Mnichovo Hradiště is dominated by its fine baroque 17th century chateau. The town and chateau are closely associated with the famous Valdštejn and Markvart dynasties.
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Mužský viewpoint
Mužský hill is a volcanic hill located in the centre of the Příhrazské plateau. It is also the highest point in Mlada Boleslav region, with fine 360° views.
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Mužský village
Mužský village is located on the Příhrazské sandstone plateau and is a heritage protected site, representing some of the best preserved folk architecture in the region
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Obětní kámen
Obětní kámen is an unusual weathered rock situated on a sandstone outcrop close to Mužský. It may have had a ritual purpose in ancient times.
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Pařez castle
Pařez is a small rock fortress hidden in the woods below Prachovské skály. It was built in the 14th century and abandoned after the Hussite Wars in the 15th century.
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Plakánek valley
The Plakánek valley located close to the castle of Kost is one of the most interesting sites in Český ráj, revealing the geological secrets of the Cretaceous era.
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Postojna cave
Postojna cave is the largest of several caves located in the Klokočské skály, first used as a shelter by hunter-gatherers in the Stone Age.
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Prachovské skály (Prachov rocks)
Prachovské skály are probably the most famous and photographed of the Český ráj ‘rock cities’. The sandstone pillars have attracted tourists and climbers for over two centuries.
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Příhrazské skály
Příhrazské skály is one of the largest sandstone rock areas in Český ráj. It is one of the best ‘rock cities’ for cliff edge views, and has several ancient castle sites.
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Rotštejn castle
Rotštejn is a classic ruined rock castle built on the edge of the Klokočí cliffs. It was founded by the Markvart family in the second half of the 13th century.
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Saint Zdislava
Saint Zdislava is an important 13th century figure in the history of Český ráj. She is closely associated with Turnov and the history of the Markvart family.
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Sobotka
Sobotka is an attractive historic town close to Jičín. It is most notable for its fine examples of folk architecture dating from the 16th to 19th centuries.
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Suché skály
The Suché skály are a unique ridge of uplifted and hardened sandstone. From a distance the ridge looks like the back of some monstrous dragon, sleeping in the forest.
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Svijany
Svijany is a village located close to the Jizera, with history dating back to the Bronze Age. Today it is home to Renaissance chateau with an intriguing history and a famous brewery.
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Trosky
Trosky is unique. A gothic fortress built on top of twin towers of solidified lava, it stands proud as the symbol of the region. Its silhouette is visible from every corner of Český ráj.
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Turnov
Turnov, strategically placed on an elbow of the river Jizera, has a history dating back to the Stone Age. It is viewed as being at the heart of Český ráj, both geographically and historically.
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Valdštejn
Valdštejn was formerly a gothic castle and family seat of a major branch of the Markvart family. It was reconstructed several times over the centuries, and has a rich history, worth investigating.
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Valečov castle
Valečov is an imposing medieval castle ruin built on a sandstone outcrop, close the village of Boseň. It is one of the more accessible rock castles, with a parking area just below the ruins.
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Veliš
Veliš castle, built on an ancient volcano, was once viewed as the strongest castle in Bohemia. Today, little more than a couple of crumbling walls above an abandoned basalt quarry.
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Vesec u Sobotky
Vesec is a small village located close to Sobotka. It has the some of the best preserved examples of timbered folk architecture in the region, and is a national heritage monument.
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Vranov (Pantheon)
Vranov is a rock castle located above the Jizera river, near Malá Skála. It was built in the early 15th century on uplifted sandstone ridge that lies along the Lusatian fault zone.
READ MOREVranovský Hřeben (Vranov ridge)
The Vranov ridge is an extraordinary geological feature, situated above Malá Skála. It is an uplifted block of sandstone dating from the earliest period of flooding by the Cretaceous sea.
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Vyskeř
Vyskeř is a volcanic hill visible from some distance away due to the white chapel of St Anne, which is perched on top of the hard basalt outcrop.
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