Tom`s travels: Bohemian Paradise (18/09/2018)

My brother managed to take a day off so we decided to head out of Prague and enjoy a day trip in nature together. We took a regional train from the main station and reached the small town of Turnov located in the northern part of the country. As we headed out of the station and into the town we crossed the railway once again and headed south towards the nearby hills. This is where the Bohemian Paradise began, a protected landscape area and the first nature reserve of the Czech Republic. After starting our ascent of the hills, we first reached a lookout point built on top of a rock jutting out called Hlavatice. After climbing it we had an impressive view over the treetops and the surrounding landscape and we could easily see the way we had walked from Turnov in the distance. Once back down and walking further through the forest we then reached Valdštejn Castle, a lonely fortress surrounded by a thick forest. Before heading to visit it, we decided to have lunch at a hut which sat right outside the entrance which served traditional food. The food was ok and relatively cheap, but I had expected a little better. Nonetheless, after eating, we decided to head and tour the castle crossing a nice bridge lined with Baroque statues leading up to the entrance. After buying the ticket, we entered the premises of the fortress. Originally built in the Gothic style it then received additions throughout the centuries particularly during the 18th century. The first building we approached was built during the latter period of the castle and hold some rooms which were used for events. Right below it a stair leading inside the rock gave way to two rooms filled with objects from the archaeological findings in the castle premises. Then back up we reached the small church dedicated to St John Nepomuk and featuring a Baroque interior. Next to it, on another rocky outcrop was the remains of the Gothic castle which now consist of just a few stone walls covered by a terrace providing a nice view of the area. After the tour of the complex, we then headed out and back on the trail walking further among beautiful trees and peaceful nature sounds. At one point we reached another point of interest: an observation deck over a rocky geological formation called the Rock Town of Hruba Skala. The sight was impressive, with a large group of sandstone rocks shaped by all kinds of erosion jutting out from among the trees and literally forming a kind of city. We admired the view for a while and then continued on, stopping at several other observation points which provided more views of different rock formations and panoramas of the surrounding countryside. After a little while we reached another castle, the Hruba Skala castle, originally built during the middle ages it was then rebuilt during the 16th century in a Renaissance style and finally in 1859 further rebuilt in a neo-gothic style. Due to its history, it remained well preserved and now hosts a hotel and restaurant. We entered ins courtyard which featured a little café and a terrace opening up to a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape. From here we even managed to spot far in the distance another castle standing on top of a hill. We then headed forward and walked down the hill through a beautiful valley sided by rocky cliffs and impressively tall trees. The way was peaceful and relaxing and we reached some field which led up another hill. After a bit, we reached the top where the castle we had previously seen in the distance, Hrad Trosky, was located. We walked a little further up and reached the castle entrance; unfortunately, though the place had just closed and so we just had to enjoy the view from the outside. Consisting of a main central walled structure, it is flanked by two towers built on the summit of two basalt volcanic plugs. Despite in a state of ruin, suffered mostly during the Thirty Years' War of 1648, it is a wonderful example of a 14th-century fortified structure. It was now time to go so we headed back downhill and reached a super tiny rural train station, where a train was supposed to take us back to Turnov. We were a bit worried the train would never pass, but in the end, 5 minutes later than the actual hour it stopped and we got on to reach Turnov and switch trains finally heading back to Prague.