Location: East Bohemia Map
Area: 17 km²
Adršpach-Teplice Rocks is an area of picturesque geologic
formation located in the East Bohemia of the Czech Republic. It is a
small area in the middle of an untouched pristine forest.
Adršpach-Teplice Rocks is a protected reserve near the town of
Broumov that covers a total area of 17 km² . Picturesque sandstone
rocks take their name from two local settlements of Adršpach and
Teplice nad Metují. Adršpach-Teplice Rocks were formed during the
Cretaceous period when tons of sediment deposits formed on the
bottom of the ancient sea. After millions of years of wind and water
erosions rocks formed unique geologic formations that tower at a
height of 600 meters above surrounding plains. Many of the rock
formations here are named due to their shapes that includes Stony
Eagle, Dog, Boar, Stony Crown, Lovers, Martin walls and many others.
Additionally Adršpach-Teplice Rocks has several lakes with the
cleanest water. It is forbidden to swim here, but tourists are
allowed to rent a boat.
The nature reserve has several well
marked and well designed paths for hikers that begin in a town of
Adršpach. There is also a visiting center and an official office
where you can buy entrance tickets. You can also buy a map that will
make your trip more productive. Various trails might take you 3- 8
hours. In addition to Adršpach- Teplice Rocks protected park there
is also an area of virgin forest around this area that covers
hundreds of square miles.
Additionally Adršpach-Teplice
Rocks are a popular site for the rock climbing and rock jumping. If
you feel like climbing these unusual rock formations make sure you
are up to the task. Adršpach- Teplice Rocks are considered as one of
most difficult and challenging for climbers. If you want to find how
dangerous the place is just check the local miniature chapel located
in the cliffs. Many people bring different items to commemorate
their loved ones who died in accidents in Adršpach-Teplice Rocks.
Additionally federally protected Peregrine Falcon call these rocks
their home and some areas of the nature reserve are closed to the
climbers.
The nature reserve is located roughly in the triangle defined by the
municipalities of Adršpach (the basic settlement unit of Horní
Adršpach), Teplice nad Metují and the peak of Čáp nad Vsí Skály in the
tourist region of Kladské pomezí in eastern Bohemia in the Hradec
Králové region.
In this area, after the retreat of the Cretaceous
sea due to tectonic and erosional activity, including weathering, two
isolated groups of rocks were formed in the originally continuous
sandstone sheet - the rock towns of Adršpašská skály and Teplická skály,
separated from each other by a deep Vlčí gorge.
The
Adršpašsko-Teplické rocks are a separate geomorphological part of the
Teplická panve subdistrict belonging to the Broumovská vrchovina unit,
the Polická vrchovina subunit and the Polická panev district.[4] The NPR
is significant not only for its geomorphology, but also for the
occurrence of a number of protected animals and plants.
The Adršpašské skály are separated from the Teplické skály with which they form a continuous plateau by the 7 km long canyon Vlčí rokle. Here you will find rock towers up to 90 meters high, deep gorges, a waterfall and also 2 lakes. A tolled circular trail for tourists leads through this entire area.
The rock town of Teplice is made up of distinctive rock walls. It is
separated from the Adršpašské rocks by a deep Vlčí roklí.
The
rocky town is divided into Skalský hřeben with the highest peak Skála
(694 m), the ridges of Čápu (786 m), Supích skal (771 m) and Kraví hory
(734 m) and the larger and rugged plateaus of Bludiště.
The rock
town of Teplice stretches along the course of the Skalní potok. There
are about 70 named rock formations in them. There is a tolled circular
trail for tourists in the area around the Skalní potok, the Supích skal
area and the Čáp peak are not tolled.
On the territory of the national nature reserve there are the remains of three castles, registered on the Central List of Immovable Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic. These are the rock castles Střmen, Adršpach and Skály.
In 2005, some footage of the film version of C.S. Lewis' novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was filmed here.
The Adršpašsko-Teplice rocks, with their hundreds of isolated and
bizarre rock towers, are a popular climbing terrain. Climbing here has a
long and colorful history. The first ascents in Adršpach were made
already in 1923 by members of the German club K.V. Lössnitz, who with
the equipment of the time were able to climb some dominant rock towers
(Král, Cimbuří, Saská Hlava, Martinská Koruna, Milenci, Starostová or
Orel). Skalní koruna (1927) was the first tower conquered in Teplické
skály. The pre-war ascents were, with honorable exceptions (Czech
Alpinists' Club 1935), a matter for Saxons and, gradually, local Germans
as well. In the post-war period, the era of Czechoslovak first ascents
also begins, continuing through generational changes (and from 1960,
once again the excellent Saxon "competition") essentially to the present
day. A peculiar climbing (climbing) subculture is also intrinsically
connected to the area, maintaining the "sandwich" tradition and
congregating mostly in local "refreshments". Those interested in the
history of climbing here can recommend the book Píškaři.
Smooth
slabs, joints and chimneys of various widths are characteristic of local
rock climbing. "Classic" ascents often require mental toughness (the
ability to handle fear) and belay skills. Thanks to the sporting
tradition and rules prohibiting, among other things, adding new belays,
even today's climbers can compare their abilities with previous
generations of pioneers and first ascents.
Since 1992, the Czech
Mountaineering Association, on behalf of all mountaineers, has had to
negotiate an exemption from the law banning mountaineering in all our
national nature reserves in order to practice rock climbing in the NPR
Adršpašsko-teplické skály.