From this October a large part of the Czech Paradise area including the Protected Czech Paradise nature reserve…
From this October a large part of the Czech Paradise area including the Protected Czech Paradise nature reserve , the oldest in the Czech Republic and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has been declared a UNESCO Geopark. The Czech Paradise joins 21 European and 8 Chinese Geoparks and can also pride itself on being the only such park in any of the countries which recently joined the EU. It now finds itself in the same league as the famous Petrified Forest on the Greek island of Lesbos, for example.
Members of the Committee for European Geoparks, advisors to the World Geological Union and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have welcomed the Czech Paradise into a distinguished club of geologically valuable locations. The Geopark encompasses the wider Czech Paradise area, including the Boskovske caves and the Jicin district for example, measuring around 700km² in total. The area is of particular geological value not only for its so-called ‘rock towns’ of Prihrazske, Hruboskalske and Betlemske, but also for the Prachovske Klokocske and Suche skaly rock formations.
Apart from unique rock formations, the value of the Czech Paradise area lies in its rare blend of natural phenomena, numerous places of interest and traditional folk architecture, the significance of which reaches far beyond the borders of the Czech Republic. Idyllic valleys give way to grassy meadows; traditional timber buildings make way for towers of rock. The area is particularly well endowed with places of historical interest especially castles and chateaux, the instantly recognisable ruins Trosky Castle and the Renaissance chateau of Hruba Skala to name just a few examples. The whole area is crisscrossed with a dense network of marked walking trails and nature walks that enable visitors to learn more about places of natural beauty as well as deposits of precious stones, former quarries and rare fossils.
This is proof, if any were needed, that the remarkable Czech Paradise area of the Czech Republic extending between the towns of Mnichovo Hradiste, Jicin and Turnov, is a worthy bearer of the title it was given in the 19th century by guests at a nearby spa, and that its has a rightful place among the UNESCO Geoparks of the world.
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