A Stone Journey Across Czechia: 14 Regions, 14 Astonishing Sites Carved from Rock and Legend

The tourist portal Kudy z nudy has picked one remarkable "stone" landmark from each of Czechia's 14 regions — from a Gothic house with a bell on Prague's Old Town Square to legend-shrouded rocks in the Jeseníky Mountains, where witches were once said to gather.

In Prague, the standout is the House "At the Stone Bell" on Old Town Square — a Gothic building resembling a fairy-tale tower, now home to an exhibition hall of the Prague City Gallery.

The Central Bohemian Region offers several highlights: the town of Kamenný Přívoz on the Sázava River, a Celtic warrior's head unearthed near Kamenné Žehrovice, the mysterious Kounov Stone Rows — often called the Czech Stonehenge — and the Stone House and Stone Fountain in Kutná Hora.

In the South Bohemian Region, Písek boasts a stone bridge over the Otava River — according to the tourist portal, it's the oldest surviving bridge of its kind in Czechia, even older than Prague's Charles Bridge.

The Plzeň Region is home to Přimda Castle, one of the country's oldest surviving stone fortresses. According to chronicler Cosmas, it was built in 1121 by "some Germans," though it was soon reclaimed by Czech Prince Vladislav I.

In the Karlovy Vary Region, in the Ore Mountains near Boží Dar, an ornate 1729 boundary stone still stands, once marking the border between the estates of Tetov, Horní Hrádek, and Jáchymov. According to the source, the stone is actually older than its inscribed date suggests — it may date back to 1677.

The Ústí nad Labem Region is rich in "stone" place names: Česká Kamenice, with its miniature carillon and model park; Srbská Kamenice, a popular base for exploring Bohemian Switzerland; and the Kamenice River, winding through the gorges of the national park.

In the Liberec Region, the famous Panská Skála near Kamenický Šenov — the so-called "stone organ" — appeared in the fairy-tale film "The Proud Princess." Less known but equally striking are Roháč Rock on Ještěd and the Hollow Stone near Cvikov.

The Hradec Králové Region can boast the largest open-air Baroque sculptural gallery in the world — the Braun Bethlehem near Kuks, where sculptor Matyáš Bernard Braun carved biblical scenes directly into the sandstone rock.

In the Pardubice Region, the cliff known as Maiden's Rock towers over the Lovětín Gorge near Lichnice Castle — tied to the legend of the cruel maiden Milada, who lured suitors to their death in the abyss until one knight finally outwitted her.

In the Vysočina Region, visitors should see the town of Kamenice nad Lipou, with its castle and commemorative linden tree, as well as nearby Kámen Castle, home to a unique motorcycle collection.

In the South Moravian Region, within Podyjí National Park, stands Zisfeld's Stone, offering a view over the deep valley of the Dyje River — named after a local writer who once sought inspiration there.

The Zlín Region features the "Stones of the Disappeared" in Kroměříž — small brass plaques set into the pavement bearing the names of people who once left and never returned.

In the Olomouc Region, the Jeseníky Mountains are home to the White and Black Stones near Oskava, the Lost Stones near Sobotín, and the White Stone within the Libavá military training area, which is opened to the public only once a year during a special event.

Rounding out the list are the Petrovy Kameny boulders in the Moravian-Silesian Region — massive rocks near Praděd Mountain, wrapped in legends of witches' sabbaths and flights above the mountains.

Read also: Prague Castle from the Inside: 9 Must-See Spots Within the Fortress

Around Prague, based on reporting by kudyznudy.cz