Rovensko pod Troskami combines a striking rocky landscape with a townscape whose history can be read in its bell tower, church and square. The town is considered an important junction for hiking trails in the Bohemian Paradise. A 9 km circular hike leads from the square via Borek and Trosky back to the starting point. This makes it possible to combine a hike with a look at the historic buildings in town.
Hiking the blue-marked route
The recommended route begins in the square in Rovensko pod Troskami and follows the blue-marked trail towards Borek pod Troskami. It passes through Borecké skály; from the Svatopluk Čech viewpoint, you can see Trosky. The loop goes via Borek and Trosky back to the square. The stated distance of 9 km refers to the entire circular route, not just the section towards Borek.
Borecké skály: rocks and nesting birds
The protected natural monument Borecké skály lies within the municipal areas of Rovensko pod Troskami and Hrubá Skála. It is a rocky city made of Upper Cretaceous block sandstone. A marked hiking trail with viewpoints runs through the area; the blue-marked route also passes through Borecké skály. Common kestrels and eagle owls nest among the rocks, as do rare common ravens. The geology, viewpoints and nesting birds each give the rocky area its own character.
The bell tower and its three bells
The wooden bell tower dates from 1630. It has three so-called rebel bells, whose clappers hang upwards. The three bells are set in motion by stepping on pedals. While the bells are ringing, the tower is open every Sunday and on official public holidays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., without a guided tour and with the bell ringers present. Check these visiting arrangements again before travelling.
History in the square and the church
A Baroque Marian column dating from 1744 stands in the square. The square’s centre is also home to the sculpture group “Rozhovor” by sculptor Josef Drahoňovský. The church in Rovensko pod Troskami adds further historical landmarks to the townscape: its Gothic choir dates from the 14th century, while the nave was remodelled in 1573. The buildings thus reflect different periods, rather than a single phase of construction.
Crafts, a poet and a composer
The town’s domestic craft tradition includes cutting Bohemian garnets, glass and semi-precious stones. Rovensko pod Troskami is also the birthplace of composer Václav Karel Holan Rovenský; he was buried in the church in Rovensko. A monument in the town park commemorates the poet Svatopluk Čech’s stay in the summer of 1891. A rocky viewpoint in the Bor forest above the town is named after him. Along the route, the Svatopluk Čech viewpoint offers a view of Trosky.
Discover more destinations: Prackov, Slana, Tatobity, Kostalov, Libštát, Žernov U Semil, Nová Ves Nad Popelkou, Rakousy.
For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Semily.
