Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Nature reserve with sandstone formations in Hradec Králové Region, Czech Republic.
Adršpach-Teplice Rocks is a national nature reserve of Upper Cretaceous sandstone, declared in 1933 and covering 1771 hectares, the largest rock city in Central Europe. Two separate groups of formations, Adršpašské skály and Teplické skály, are divided by the 7 km Vlčí rokle canyon. The Adršpach group has towers up to 90 m high, two mountain lakes and a waterfall on the Metuje river; the Teplice group consists of long fault walls rising straight from the ground, with free-standing towers near 100 m.
The area became known during the 19th century when visitors began leaving stone inscriptions and creating postcards to record their visits. These early records helped establish it as a destination that attracted travelers and nature enthusiasts.
Many towers carry names such as Sugar Loaf, The Lovers, and The Mayor and Mayoress. Visitors also find inscriptions carved into the rock by earlier tourists, the oldest dating from the late 18th century; on The Lovers rock, traces of paint remain from a 1968 protest by local climbers against the Warsaw Pact invasion.
Two separate paid circuits exist: the Adršpach loop with two mountain lakes and a waterfall, and the Teplice circuit along the Skalní potok. The area around Supí skály and the 786 m summit Čáp is not charged. Leaving the marked paths requires a permit from the reserve administration.
The rocks serve as one of Europe's key breeding sites for peregrine falcons, leading to specific protection measures in certain areas. Some zones may have restricted access during breeding season to avoid disturbing the nesting birds.
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