Kozlov (Chlum) castle ruin

Tourists' favourite rocky area represents the remnants of a sandstone plateau with deep gorges and valleys, where nature created a unique sculpture with tall, significantly extended rock towers. The area is rather small in terms of size, but its rock formations, gorges, ravines, hollows, and locations of prehistoric finds are abundant. It is protected as a nature reserve since 1933. The most interesting parts of the rocks are easily accessible on safe tourist marked paths and many beautiful lookouts provide a complete overview of the Prachov Rocks area.

Nature Reserve Apolena is near Castle Trosky east of the village Troskovice. Rock towers were separated by erosion after fracturing of the sandstone basin. The eruption of the nearby volcano 17 million years ago, and also falling of individual blocks of rock on the hillside of Libuň furrow influenced it. Rock massive and standalone rock towers from the softer sandstone are a good habitat for rock nesting birds such as kestrel, eagle owl, and Jackdaw. Cleftcave Sklepy, the largest in the PLA Bohemian Paradise, which is the home for eleven species of bats, is hidden among the rocks.

These rocks are on the hill Bor (360 m above sea) 1 km west of the village Rovensko p. Troskami. An elongated hill is bordered with rugged sandstone wall with alcoves, ledges, cavities, and caves. The sandstone rocks of Borek include a number of interesting rock formations, such as blocks, columns, caves and various minor forms of weathering such as honeycombs and ironstones. The upper plateau is covered by pines, whose age is about 120 years. Shallow sandy soils and hard sandstone bedrock caused the vegetation to grow flat tops, slightly stunted.

The hill Trosky (488 m above sea) represents the remnants of volcanic scoria cone. The original volcano, which broke with the explosion through sandstone about 17.5 million years ago, was worn down by erosion over time. Only two highly resistant basaltic towers remained exposed, which are the remnants of conduit that once filled the vents inside the scoria and ash cones. The thicker one is called Baba and thinner is called Panna. The famous ruins are the remains of castle built here in 14th century.

Kumburk castle was founded around 1300. The phase of the castle flourish immediately preceded the Hussite riots in 15th century. Castle's outer fortifications were demolished in the 17th century, the castle itself was deserted and dilapidated. Kumburk stands on the former lava lake, which emerged when lava filled the crater created by an explosion caused by contact of hot magma with water-saturated sediments about 17 million years ago. Basaltic columns, which are arranged in the shape of an inverted fan below the castle remind us of that volcanic event.

Chateau Hrubá Skála was built on a sandstone rock on the site of a former medieval castle rock, which was established by Hynek of Wallenstein. The castle was first mentioned as the property of Wallenstein dynasty in the charter of 1353. It was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau in the mid-16th century and later rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style during the Romantism period. The chateau serves as hotel and offers a variety of restaurants and other representative rooms of the castle.