Chotovický vrch is a wooded basalt hill south of Nový Bor that hides more than just forest - it's one of the most interesting climbing spots in northern Bohemia and a silent witness to dramatic historical events. Although no comfortable trail leads to the summit, this very wildness is exactly what draws adventurous hikers.

The landscape is shaped by jagged basalt rock formations, boulders and scree, all densely overgrown with forest that unfortunately blocks the views from the top. The atmosphere is raw and a bit mysterious - this isn't a polished tourist spot but rather a hidden corner for those seeking something beyond marked paths. In autumn and winter, once the leaves fall, you can almost sense the layers of history hidden among the rocks.

How to reach the summit

• From the educational trail 'Po památkách Skalice' - you can branch off and scramble up to the top; the route is demanding, with rocky, unmarked terrain
• Turn off road I/9 towards the water plant at the foot of the hill, then continue about 200 m uphill to the summit area

Practical information

• There is no marked path to the summit - reaching it requires some off-trail navigation
• The summit area is a popular climbing sector known as 'Kašparák' (Kašpák), with 97 routes ranging from grade 1 to 9+ UIAA on basalt walls up to 17 metres high
• Along the asphalt road to the water plant lies the grave of French soldier Jean Henri de Valmont, shot in 1813
• On the northern slope are the remains of a ski jump (K20), built in 1963 and destroyed by a storm in 1977

In 1918, the decisive shootout of the Rumburk mutiny participants took place on these slopes - proof that this quiet, forested hill has a history far richer than its silence suggests.