Trosky (hrad)

Trosky is a ruined castle atop the hill of the same name, in the cadastral area of the village of Troskovice, in the Semily district of the Liberec Region. It lies within the Bohemian Paradise Protected Landscape Area and the Bohemian Paradise Geopark. The castle is state-owned, administered by the National Heritage Institute, and open to the public. Since 2002 it has held the status of national cultural monument.

Trosky is the symbol of Bohemian Paradise and one of the most visited castles in Czechia. Its unmistakable silhouette is formed by two towers built on two rocky basalt cones — the taller one is called Panna (Maiden, 511 m above sea level) and the lower one Baba (Hag, 502 m). The taller cone is also the highest point of the Vyskeřská vrchovina hills. The castle was founded in the 14th century and played a significant role during the Hussite Wars, when it belonged to the lords of Bergov and, together with nearby castles, formed a stronghold for the Catholic side.

The castle withstood two sieges at the time, and Trosky was only captured in 1469 by the army of King George of Poděbrady. From the second half of the 15th century it ceased to serve as a noble seat — it belonged to the estate of Kost Castle and later to Hrubá Skála. At the end of the Thirty Years' War, Swedish and Imperial troops alternately occupied and captured the castle. It's precisely this turbulent history that gives the jagged towers their dramatic charm.

Climbing up to both towers and taking in the wide views over the Bohemian Paradise landscape make Trosky one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the region. The castle pairs perfectly with a circuit of the rock towns and other castles nearby. If you plan your stay with accommodation in Bohemian Paradise, you'll have plenty of time to discover Trosky and the surrounding trails without rushing, and to enjoy a view that changes with every hour of the day.