Picture a herd of enormous white elephants resting at the edge of a forest — that's exactly what the White Rocks look like, one of the most striking rock formations in the Lužické hory (Lusatian Mountains). This isolated cluster of sandstone rocks, rising up to 20 meters, owes its strikingly white color and rounded shapes to a mix of kaolinite, earning it the nickname Elephant Rocks.

The rocks formed from tilted layers of pale Cretaceous sandstone, shaped by tectonic movements along the Lusatian Fault. Over millennia, erosion carved cracks, oval hollows and caves (the largest about 6 meters long), and even a 4-meter rock tunnel through the formation. The place has a distinct atmosphere in every season — summer greenery makes the white stone pop, while in winter the whole scene feels almost otherworldly. It's a small but charming rock town, perfect for a relaxed short walk with your camera.

How to get there

• From the I/13 road Děčín–Liberec, via the Rynoltice, Jítrava, hl. silnice bus stop — about 750 m on foot, easy terrain
• Along the red-marked trail passing the rocks, part of the International Educational Trail of the Lusatian and Zittau Mountains

Good to know

• Protected as a natural monument since 1955, covering just 0.661 ha
• Climbing the rocks, carving steps, or scratching graffiti into the surface is prohibited — the site is under constant protection by AOPK ČR
• Lighting fires is not allowed within the protected area

The rocks have drawn visitors since the first half of the 19th century, and their uncanny elephant-like silhouette still fascinates photographers and nature lovers today.