Bohemian Paradise
The Bohemian Paradise ( German: Bohemian Paradise ) is a low mountain range in the northeast of the Czech Republic on the middle reaches of the Jizera. Shaped the landscape is mainly due to the well-known rock towns of sandstone. Since 1955, a part of the region is as Chranena krajinná oblast Bohemian Paradise nature reserve and is the oldest large-scale protected area in the country. Because of the special geological structure of the region was incorporated into the network of European Geoparks 2005. The symbol of the Bohemian Paradise is the castle Trosky.
Description
Location and extent
The conservation area is 181.5 km ². The area is one of mainly small rural communities in parts of the districts Semily, Mladá Boleslav and Jičín. A precise boundary for the region but there is no. In essays, books and songs cities such as Mladá Boleslav, Bezděz, Český Dub and Sychrov in the West, Bozkovské in the north, Nová Paka and Konecchlumí the east and Kopidlno, Staré Hrady and Liben be counted in the south to the region.
The protected area consists of three separate parts. The 2005 designated Geopark connects and includes also the surrounding, non-protected landscape. It extends to 700 km ². At the Tourist Bohemian Paradise eventually also include the other surrounding areas with 126 congregations and a total area of 1091 km ². In the east the region borders the foothills of the Giant Mountains, in the north is the rolling countryside in the Jizera Mountains on. To the west close to the wooded areas of the Ralská pahorkatina. The landscape to the south, part of the Bohemian pan is flat and agricultural.
Geography and Geology
The Bohemian Paradise is one of the rock formation at Bohemian panel (Česká tabule ). Sediments of Mesozoic marine form the base for sandstone rocks that have emerged in the late Cretaceous period. The sandstone formations form extensive plateaus, which are comparable with the rocky areas of the Saxon Switzerland. The famous rock cities are Hruboskalsko, Prachovské rocks, Příhrazské rocks, the rocks and Klokočské Betlémské rocks.
The sandstone plateaus are broken by deep ravines. There are also occasional but striking volcanic cone mountains, forests, farmland and embedded in the natural ponds, including the Oborský fishpond with 11.4 acres of water. Good distance vision you have of the lookouts on the highest mountains Kozákov (744 m) and Kopanina ( 657 m).
Flora and Fauna
In agriculture, the agriculture is predominant pasture is less common. In the forests of conifers dominate. In places, mixed deciduous forests are still preserved. Valuable wild plant populations are found especially in ravine forests and wetlands. In the rock eagle owls, hawks, ravens and stone marten will find favorable conditions in the wetlands kingfishers, storks and gray herons can be seen. The Bohemian Paradise is no untouched nature, but one for several millennia inhabited and cultivated cultural landscape whose value is mainly seen in the typical imprint of the sandstone cliffs. In the region never larger industrial companies have settled. Ecological risks are present particularly through agriculture and mountain sports tourism.
History
The region has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. The earliest settlements were confined to the fertile valleys, the rocks remained, with the exception of Skály na Mužském uninhabited. On the Kozákov were workshops for the processing of jasper. Around 1100 BC, formed a dense network of settlements of the Lusatian culture. The villages were only 1-2 kilometers away from each other, and also on the rocks, and especially in the caves many settlement traces are shown for this time. Fortified hill forts developed also on the mountain Mužský, rocks in Hrubá skála and Prachovské. The system of well-protected and strategically located military settlements remained in part to the Middle Ages in use, but without a continuity of settlement can be established.
By no later than the 11th century AD, converted the settlement structure. In the heights of the local nobility established numerous fortified manor houses and castles that dominate the landscape today.
The tourist development of the region began in the early 19th century in the area of Sedmihorky. The spa was founded in 1841 there offered guests especially clean air and some mineral springs, of which the Aloisienquelle is the most important. One of the first guests, the Czech poet Karel Havlicek Borovský, coined in the same year the name Bohemian Paradise, the naturalized rapidly and wearing this region today. The first " Guide through the Bohemian Paradise ," wrote Josef 1885 Zdenko Pryl at the instigation of the founder and director of the spa of Sedmihorky, Dr. Antonín Šlechta.
Many Bohemian artist settled in Sedmihorky and surroundings inspire. The composer Bedřich Smetana spent a good part of his last years. 1876 to 1884 he lived in Jabkenice and composed here including " Tábor " and " Blanik ", the last two symphonic poems from the cycle " My Country " ( Má Vlast ).
Attractions
In the region there are numerous cultural and historical monuments and natural attractions. Mentioned are built on the high cliff castles Kost and Trosky, Vranov, Wallenstein, Zbiroh, Drábské světničky, Rotštejn, Valečov and the castles Hruba Skala, Hruby Rohozec and Humprecht.
Mountain Sports
For climbers, the rock areas Prachovské rocks, Hrubá skála, Suché rocks and Skály na Mužském are interesting. A significant peak is here the mare ( Kobyla ) in Příhrazy. Baton, Lighthouse, Kapellmeister and the skala Drachenfelsen are the main peaks in the Hrubá. In Prachovské rocks, these are the Raven towers that Prachovské needle and Prachovské cap. Climbed is here since the twenties of the 20th century, initially mainly by Reichenberger and Dresdner climbers. Later, especially after the Second World War, then were added more and more native Czech climbers.
It should be noted that after rain due to the very soft Gesteines 48 hours must not be climbed. Exceptions are the rocks of the Dry rocks, which consist of very thick sandstone.
Places
In the micro-region Bohemian Paradise, the communities Sobotka, Mladějov, Troskovice, Libošovice, Olešnice, Hruba Skala, Karlovice, Kacanovy, Ktová, Vysker, Osek Dobšín, Branžež and Kněžmost have joined.