Hruboskalsko

Hruboskalsko Rock City is a nature reserve located near the village of Karlovice, in the heart of the Český ráj (Czech Paradise) protected landscape area in northern Czechia. Also known as Hruboskalské skalní město, it is one of the largest and best-known "rock cities" in the whole region — a type of sandstone formation where narrow towers and blocks form a dense network of corridors that, seen from above, resembles the layout of an old town.

How big is the reserve and when was it established?

The Hruboskalsko rock city reserve was formally established on 22 April 1998. It covers an area of 219.2 hectares, making it one of the largest protected areas of its kind within Český ráj. This scale allows the reserve to preserve not only the rock formations themselves but also the surrounding forest ecosystem, so the whole site functions as a coherent, largely undisturbed stretch of landscape.

What exactly does the reserve protect?

The main conservation goal is the extensive rock city together with its preserved relict pine forests. Relict pine forests are old-growth stands that survived on hard-to-reach, rocky terrain with poor soil — places where forestry activity was difficult or impossible for decades, even centuries. Such stands carry particular ecological value because they reflect the natural composition and structure of forest that existed before intensive human intervention. Combined with the sandstone walls and towers, they create the raw, distinctive landscape typical of Český ráj.

Why is it called a "rock city"?

The term "rock city" (Czech: skalní město) is used in Czechia to describe sandstone formations where erosion has carved a dense network of narrow passages, ravines, and individual rock towers, forming a pattern that recalls the streets and squares of an old town. Hruboskalsko is one of the representative examples of this phenomenon in the Český ráj region — an area that was the first in Czechia to be designated a protected landscape, precisely because of its exceptional concentration of such rock formations.

Where exactly is it located?

The reserve lies near the village of Karlovice, within the Český ráj protected landscape area, in the north-eastern part of Czechia. The geographic coordinates of the area's central point are approximately 50.5516°N, 15.1837°E, which makes it easy to plan a route to the site using GPS navigation.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hruboskalsko Rock City the same as Hrubá Skála? The reserve's name directly references the village and castle of Hrubá Skála, located in the same part of Český ráj — the rock city described here stretches out right next to them.

When was the reserve established? The reserve was formally established on 22 April 1998.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers 219.2 hectares.

What is the main subject of protection? Protection is focused on the extensive rock city together with its preserved relict pine forests — old-growth stands growing on rocky, hard-to-access terrain.

In which region is the reserve located? Hruboskalsko Rock City lies within the Český ráj protected landscape area, near the village of Karlovice in northern Czechia.