Trosky, Natural monument and protected area in Troskovice, Czech Republic.

Trosky is a hill whose summit consists of two towers of compact basanite, the eroded feeder conduits of former monogenetic volcanoes. The higher tower, Panna, reaches 511 m above sea level; the lower, Baba, reaches 502 m. The often-cited figure of 488 m is the elevation of a lookout on Panna's slope.

A castle was founded between 1380 and 1390 by Čeněk of Wartenberg, who built two towers on the volcanic peaks with residential structures between them. The construction took advantage of the natural rock formations as a foundation for its strategic layout.

The towers carry names reflecting their distinct shapes: the lower one is called Baba (Crone) and the higher one Panna (Maiden). These names are woven into local tradition and continue to shape how people speak of the place today.

Visitors can reach both peaks via marked pathways, with a modern staircase leading to the higher tower that was built between 1999 and 2000. The access is straightforward, but paths can become slippery in wet weather, so appropriate footwear is advisable.

The castle had a 30-meter deep well system combined with rainwater tanks to ensure water supply for its inhabitants. This clever engineering shows how the builders solved the practical challenges of such a remote location.