Trosky is one of the most iconic landmarks in the Czech Republic — two ancient volcanic plugs crowned by the ruins of a medieval castle, rising dramatically above the rolling landscape of Bohemian Paradise. That unmistakable silhouette has made Trosky the very symbol of the region, and once you see it, you will understand why.
The twin peaks — Baba (502 m) and Panna (511 m) — are the eroded remnants of a volcanic eruption that took place over 16 million years ago. What you see today are the solidified magma channels of two ancient volcanoes, stripped bare by millions of years of erosion. The slopes are covered in beech, oak, and spruce forest, with rare plant species clinging to the rocky outcrops — including species found almost nowhere else. In spring and autumn, mist clings to the towers and the atmosphere feels almost magical; in summer the views stretch across the gentle hills of the Jičín Upland. The summit area is protected as a natural monument.
How to reach the summitLook out for the common kestrel nesting among the castle walls, and if you visit at dusk, you may catch a glimpse of the greater mouse-eared bat or Natterer's bat — both species make their home in the ancient ruins. The swallowtail butterfly also frequents the sunny slopes in summer.