Of all the rock towns, the Bohemian Paradise probably offers the most opportunities for winter trips and stays. The most famous area, Prachov Rocks, is easily accessible during the winter, as long as there’s not too much snow or ice. If there is, you enter the rocks at your own risk and need to be really careful when going up and down those steep steps. The same can be said of Skály na Sokolu or Chléviště, and even a beautiful trip along the Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise over the Vranov ridge between Frýdštejn and the Pantheon comes a real adventure when it’s icy. Don’t forget to take extra care moving around the rocks during winter. In contrast, you can enjoy an easy trip around Hrubá Skála (see below) or visit the ponds in the valleys below Trosky or take a walk through the Věžák valley. Borecké skály rocks offer some wonderful views of Trosky, which looks even more impressive looking over the winter landscape. In short: in winter, the Bohemian Paradise and its rock towns are great destinations for trips and longer stays. You can plan a long weekend or a week's holiday and pick yourself out some accommodation and places to eat in the Bohemian Paradise.
Circuit around Hrubá Skála
This trip will take you through the most famous rock town of the Bohemian Paradise. The entire route is accessible, with care, but we recommend decent boots, and trekking poles would help. Walk from Turnov to Valdštejn castle, through Hrubá Skála to the car park below Valdštejn and back to Turnov.
Turnov-město, train – Hlavatice (following the red markers – 1.3 km) – Valdštejn (red markers – 2.6 km) – U Adamova lože (red markers – 5.5 km) – Mariánská viewpoint (yellow markers – 6.1 km) – Antonínův pramen spring (yellow markers – 7.1 km) – Car park below Valdštejn (yellow markers, later along cycle routes 4089 and 4078 – 10.1 km) – Turnov-město, train (green markers – 12 km)
Hlavatice
Hlavatice sandstone tower on the northern edge of the Hrubá Skála plateau serves as a lookout tower, with a spiral steel staircase leading up to the top. It offers views of Turnov, the Kozákov and Ještěd ridges, the Jizera Mountains, Bezděz and Ralsko. There is a board on the viewpoint showing the main sights.
Valdštejn
Valdštejn Castle, situated on the western edge of the Hrubá Skála rock town, is considered the oldest castle in the Bohemian Paradise. It was founded in around 1260 by Jaroslav of Hruštice from the House of Markvartice, whose descendants later came to call themselves the Lords of Wallenstein. The castle was abandoned at the end of the 15th century and later burned down; it was restored by the Wallensteins who came after Albrecht von Wallenstein. They built an unusual pilgrimage place there with its own unique atmosphere in the 18th century. Then, in the first half of the 19th century, later owners, the Aehrenthals, connected the landscape up with a network of footpaths, and built viewpoints and the nearby spa of Sedmihorky. They opened Valdštejn Castle up to the public, making it one of the first monuments in the Czech lands that could be visited like this.
Bukovina Arboretum
Bukovina Arboretum is well worth a visit in the winter. It was founded in 1860 by the former owner of the Hrubá Skála estate, Jan Bedřich Lexa of Aehrenthal, and the forester Leopold Anger, who planted it mostly with American tree species, which still stand there today. The Arboretum is one of the oldest collections of trees and one of the first areas used for the experimental cultivation of North American trees in Central Europe. It also contains a historical gazebo from the second half of the 19th century, built in the Swiss style, which houses an exhibition and a seasonal information centre.
Mariánská viewpoint
One of the most beautiful places in the Bohemian Paradise, the Mariánská viewpoint, offers a unique view of Hrubá Skála Chateau and the rock town, especially of the group of Dragon Rocks with Trosky in the background. There is a symbolic climbers’ graveyard on the Endless Tower rock wall below the viewpoint.
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