Příhrazské skály and Valečov Castle

A more demanding circular route, which will really stretch your body, will take you to the rock towns of the Příhrazské skály and to the ruins of the rock castle. Narrow passages, long staircases, footbridges and manholes await you. You will walk past the Drábské světničky, discover ancient rock dwellings and weave through the labyrinths of the towers of the rock towns.

The starting point is the parking lot under the ruins of the Valečov castle. In the immediate vicinity you will also find the Valečovské skalní světničky dwellings carved into the rock, where people lived until the end of the 19th century. They are freely accessible, so do not hesitate to explore them.

• Interesting fact: Valečov Castle, which seems to have grown out of the rock, has been in disrepair for centuries. After the Thirty Years’ War, only the new palace remained habitable, later only the poor lived here. It served as a source of cheap building materials for the people of the area. Finally, it was saved from complete destruction at the beginning of the 20th century by the Czech Tourist Club. Today it is under the care of the old municipality of Boseň, and cultural events are sometimes held here. The castle is open all year round, but in winter only on weekends and holidays.

Several tourist routes pass below the castle; you should first take the red one and from the Zásadka signpost continue along the blue trail. After that, you will reach the famous Drábské světničky. Rescue work is currently underway in the rock castle itself, but it can be freely explored along the marked tourist route. The natural viewpoints around the castle are also freely accessible. The nearby ruins of Klamorna Castle are also interesting, which you can take a detour to from here.

You will test your courage further along the way in the narrow rocky gorge of Studený průchod (Cold Passage) where even in the hottest weather the temperature does not rise above 10°C. The blue tourist signs will then lead you to Krásná vyhlídka (Beautiful View), an ideal place for rest and refreshments in the pleasant Restaurant Na krásné vyhlídce. The views from here are great, you can see Trosky and Ještěd. And if you are going with children, they will definitely enjoy the local mini-zoo and playground.

• Tip for you: For a trip with children, you can choose a shorter option and go with them along the route of the children’s educational trail through the Příhrazské skály. It starts and ends at the parking lot below Valečov Castle. At 20 stops, children will learn interesting facts about the nature of the Bohemian Paradise in a playful way, and the whole family can participate in completing fun tasks.

From the Beautiful Viewpoint, continue along the red tourist route between the rock towers. And there is so much to see – there are 170 of them in the Příhrazské skály nature reserve, the highest of which is Kobylí hlava (Mare’s Head).

The journey will also take you through rock towns along the yellow tourist route, and from the Černá louže signpost you can return to the starting point along the blue trail.