Full-Day Hiking in Bohemian Paradise: Hrubá Skála near Prague

Hruba Skala - Rock City

Turnov, Czech Republic

The protected landscape area Bohemian Paradise (in Czech Český ráj) is a nature reserve about 90 km north-east of Prague. This time we want to take you to the area called Hruboskalsko. You will discover there Valdštejn castle, Hrubá Skála castle, symbolic climber cemetery, many spectacular viewpoints giving you a stunning panorama of rock city. You will enjoy the remarkable beauty of the landscape and numerous historic landmarks, bizarre rock formations and deep pine forests.

The isolated sandstone rock is located at the northern edge of the plateau of Hrubá Skála, not far from Valdštejn Castle, some 2 km to the south of Turnov. The top offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area – Turnov, the ridge of Kozákov and the (more distant) ridge of Ještěd, the Jizerské Hory, Bezděz and Ralsko.

The symbolic cemetery was founded in memory of Czech climbers who died during mountain expeditions. The symbolic cemetery of climbers who tragically died while climbing in the mountains was established at the Mariánská Vyhlídka, about 1.5 km to the north from the Hrubá Skála Chateau, under the wall of Nekonečná Skála (Endless Rock). The original idea of Václav Karoušek, sculptor and climber, was brought to life after the tragedy in Peru in 1970, where he died.

The rock relief carved in sandstone is located some 300 m to the north of the Hrubá Skála Chateau. It is situated in a rock gap, on the right, on the way to the Mariánská lookout point. The name of the rock formation (Adam's Bed) comes from its shape - it looks like a sofa. It was developed on order by František Adam - the brother of the last owner of the Hrubá Skála property from the Valdštejn family. The Adamovo Lože was a symbol of three Adams: Adam, the first male; Adam of Valdštejn, the founder of the noble family; and František Adam.

This 65 m long rock cleft in the Hrubá Skála Rock City is so narrow that it is hard to walk. It is one of the paths leading to the Hrubá Skála Château.

We will stop for a while at Hrubá Skála Château. The romantic château hotel of Hrubá Skála stands atop a sandstone rock, about 6 km south-east of Turnov. It used to be a castle. It was founded in the 14th century. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was converted into a Renaissance château. After a fire in 1710, it was reconstructed again, this time in a Baroque style, and finally, in the mid-19th century, it was converted in the Neo-Gothic style that we admire today. The former castle serves as a hotel today.