spring (source): The Jizera river sources in Poland round the border on slopes of Smrk and enters to the Czech territory at the altitude of 885 m of sea level.
CZ, Bohemian Paradise: Turnov and Nature to the Southwest – VIDEO
Published: 18.7.2017
Bohamian Paradise is very popular. People like to return here. This area is situated about 80 kilometers northeast of Prague and is protected nature area (CHKO) established in 1955. It is the very first protected nature area in the former Czechoslovakia. CHKO Bohemian Paradise was founded because of unique rocky towns so they would be preserved for the future generations. Apart from rocky towns, there is peace and quiet, amazing lakes, and many historic landmarks waiting for your visit.
You must have seen a movie which takes place in this amazing landscape or at some local castle or chateau. Bohemian Paradise featured in the How to reform the daddy, Jara Cimrman lying, sleeping, or in the fairy tales like Gie the Devil His Due, Arabela, How Princesses Are Awoken etc. The region is popular among film makers. Bohemian Paradise consists of three areas, the two of which surround the town of Turnov. Some of region's border villages and towns are Sobotka, Jicin, Ujez pod Troskami, Kozakov, Frydstejn, Jenisovice, Turnov, Vsen and Knezmost. There are numerous tourist routes going in all directions. The marked trails walk you through the most interesting places.
Turnov makes the heart of Bohemian Paradisa. The town literally is part of this amazing nature (as if Bohemian Paradise pervaded the town. The town is a great starting point for your trips. Be sure, however, to make a walk there as well. A main square is the best place to start in an unknown town. The main square of Trutnov features a beautiful fountain, St Francis of Assisi, the town hall etc. The city became famous mostly for its jewelry and stone-cuttery. I recommend you to visit Granat Gallery situated right on the square. In Skala street nearby, there is the Bohemian Paradise Museum. It holds a large collection of minerals and also features the largest painting by Mikolas Ales the Slaughter of the Saxons below Hruba Rock. To get more of culture here, go to Strelnice Center for Culture, or enjoy some sports and swimming in Maskova Zahrada compound. Should you be imparient to see some castles or chateaux already, visit Hruby Rohozec completing the vista of Turnov in the northward direction. The four-winged chateau of long history offers tours through it chambers or medieval cellar. If you, however, intend to spend time only in the adjacent Englishs-style park you won't regret it. There is an amazing scenic platform made of processed sandstone blocks. From here, you can see the towers of Turnov, and forests surrounding the Jizera River.
Our first move in Bohemian Paradise, is headed southwest. Left to the freeway direction Prague, there is clearly visible rocky ridge of the Prihrazske Rocks. Here, you can find Drabske Svetnicky, a very interesting place. In case you have a GPS, put there Dneboh village. There, you will quickly spot a free of charge parking lot. After about a 15 minute hike uphill, you reach a wooden entrance gate to the kingdom of worked rock towers. The walk is for free. You will still wonder who could have work these sandstone towers. The grouping of seven sandstone towers splitted by deep gorges was once a location of a castle. About 30 rooms carved into the stone have been preserved. No wonder somebody built a castle here. The vista is spectacular.
Once you are in Dneboh, go further on through Zasadka. On your left, there is part of the ruin of castle Valecov peaking from the forest. Once it belonged to the personal friends of Jan Zizka. In the close vicinity there are many cave dwellings. Between these cave dwellings (to go there is free of charge) there runs Prihrazskymi skalami nature trail.
Castle Kost is one of the most well-known structures within the area of Bohemian Paradise. The castle was built atop a rock where two rock valley meet (Prokopske Valley and Plakanek valley). The castle tower is of trapezoid shape (a cannon ball slipped on its walls). Inside, there is exhbition featuring the possessions of the House Kinsky, Renaissance black kitchen, historic weapons etc.
Next Tuesday we tell you more on what you shouldn't miss in the southwest area of the CHKO Bohemian Paradise.
Welcome in fairytale town, welcome in Jičín! Who would like to visit historical nucleus of this locality, situated in Bohemian Paradise, a couple of kilometers from Prachovské Rocks, he would feel like in a fable, if he wishes or not. Moreover, most of us connect Jičín with Rumcajs, famous robber, unforgettable figure, created by writer Václav Čtvrtek!
Even if the castle did not stand on Mount Trosky, it would in itself be a great attraction for tourists. It is a 488 meter high volcano with two cones created by erupting lava. Today, these cones are called Virgo and Baba. The former is younger but taller (even with a tower 518 meters above sea level).
The sandstone rock formation of the Prachov Rocks is the heart of the Bohemian Paradise. And as if every Czech should climb Sněžka, Říp and Hradčany once in his life, he should also walk through this captivating region. It belongs to the nicest we have in our country.
You can go on this trip every season, even snow posses no limit. From the D10 motorway we head to Bakov nad Jizerou and continue to the end of the village of Mala Bela. Immediately behind the village is the settlement Velky Reckov, here we park and we take a short walk through a national natural monument named Klokocka. The area has been protected since 1956 due to the presence of rare and endangered species of plants and animals.
Welcome to our latest addition of our tour across the Bohemian Paradise. This time we go southeast off Turnov. We are about to see beautiful rock towns surrounded by the Bohemian Paradise. We will fallow a red tourist trail dubbed the Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise.
The southern regions of the Bohemian Paradise have been already explored by us. Today our jorney continues. Let's introduce you to the last part we don't know about yet – the north.
A tip for a pleasant afternoon walk can be a visit to the interesting Bukovina Arboretum. It is located near the village of Sedmihorky on the Hruboskalská rock plateau. The Golden Trail of the Bohemian Paradise leads through the rock town, along which it is also possible to go and visit more interesting places in the area.
With all due respect to Mnichovo Hradiště - this town does not offer too many reasons to visit it. But its vinicity is literally dotted with places worth seeing. One such is the ruins of Rock Castle Valečov, situated in the village of Fort Boseň, only four kilometers from Mnichovo Hradiště.
Kost Castle is one of the most important stops on a list of Czech landmarks, as a matter of fact one of the longest list in the world. Besides Karlstejn, perhaps everybody would remember Kost among historical landmarks of the Czech Republic.
Do you wonder where to spend an Advent weekend? Should you be near the Krkonose mountains or somewhere around, visit the quiant village of Ponikla. There are two amazing places close to each other. You will feel the amazing historic atmosphere of the life of our ancestors who lived a harsh life in the mountains. You will learn what they did, what worries and joys they experienced. You will learn that te life was often complicated but locals knew how to enjoy it.
If you are thinking about making a romantic walk through wild nature and Semily is not too far for you, then Rieger's trail is the right choice. It runs along the Jizera River along the red marked trail. The walkway overlooks the river, the magnificent view over the Jizera and the hydroelectric power station, you go through the tunnel and you can drink from the well with splendid refreshing water.