The Adršpach-Teplice Rocks

In the northeast of Bohemia the sandstone plateau has weathered into a rock town, a dense maze of pale towers, pinnacles and walls rising up to a hundred metres, separated by clefts so narrow that the marked path squeezes between them in single file, with cold air, moss and ferns at the bottom where the sun rarely reaches. Two connected areas, Adršpach and Teplice, are threaded by a circuit of paths, ladders and boardwalks that passes named formations, a waterfall released on a schedule, and a small green lake in a flooded quarry that has become the region's most photographed spot. The rocks have drawn climbers for over a century and walkers for longer. It is one of the most unusual landscapes in Central Europe, and popular enough that in summer entry is by booked time slot.

What you actually see

• The rock labyrinth - the sandstone towers and the narrow clefts the path threads through.
• The green lake - the flooded quarry pool below the cliffs.
• The waterfall - released on a set schedule through the gorge.
• The Teplice circuit - the quieter second rock town linked to Adršpach.

When to go

May to October is the walking season; the gorges hold cold air and can be chilly even in summer, which is a relief in a heatwave. Autumn colour among the towers is superb. Winter freezes the gorges into ice formations but closes much of the route. Book a time slot in advance for summer weekends.

Honest expectations

It has become very popular, and on a summer weekend the narrow sections queue nose-to-tail, which rather spoils the labyrinth feeling; a weekday or an early start makes an enormous difference. Entry is ticketed with timed slots in season. The paths involve steps, ladders and damp rock and are often slippery, and the deep clefts stay cold and wet. Parts of the circuit close after heavy rain or ice.

Nearby

The Krkonoše mountains lie west; the Polish border and Wambierzyce are close to the north.