Rocking Imagination: Adrspach – The Czech Rock Town

Located right on the Polish-Czech border, within the National Nature Reserve, the Rock City in the Czech Republic acts like a magnet. No wonder, because Adrspach in the Stołowe Mountains is a true gem. This well-known tourist attraction is loved not only by Czechs and Poles. Probably because, upon entering, we are transported to another world, the world of rocky labyrinths.

It’s a place that enchants at every step. Adrspach is adored by tourists who return there at different times of the year. Unfortunately, I can’t judge when the best time to visit is: summer is the most pleasant due to the temperature, but off-season is practically empty and even more beautiful.

If you’re still undecided whether it’s worth going to the Rock City in Adrspach, this entry will surely convince you. However, before you go, remember a few things. What are they? Read below.

Where is the Rock City located?

The Adršpach Rock City is located on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland, more precisely, in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, about 5 kilometers from the border. It’s an ideal place for a one-day trip when visiting Lower Silesia.

Click on the map below to see the exact location and plan your route:

Adrspach Rock City: Practical Information

I’ll start with the most important: to enter the Rock City, you need to buy a ticket. You can buy it on-site or online. On-site, you can pay with a card or cash. When purchasing at the window, you receive an informational brochure with a map.

If you’re going to Adrspach during the season, remember that buying tickets online can help you avoid queuing at the ticket office. Plus, it’s cheaper online!

The cost for adults is 130 Czech crowns (November 2023), with discounts for children, and you can bring a dog for 50 crowns. Below is the complete price list (it varies during the season and off-season).

Rock City Price List (2023)

Source of information: official website of the Adršpach Rocks

Parking at the Rock City

You can get to the Rock City by train or car. The train from Wrocław operates during the season. If you come by car, remember that parking is an additional fee (we paid 100 crowns off-season). Card payment was possible. Parking can also be ordered online through the adrspasskeskaly.cz website.

Note that if you want to exchange currency, exchange offices can be found on-site, but many recommend buying Czech crowns on the Polish side (it’s cheaper). More about payments in the Czech Republic here: What to Pay with in the Czech Republic? Where to Exchange Money?

When to visit the Rock City?

Much depends on the season and opening hours. Adršpach Rock City is open from 8 am to 6 pm during the summer season, so you won’t enter before sunrise or after dark. The summer season lasts from April 1st to October 31st.

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit the Rock City, personally, I recommend visiting in the morning during the summer. Around noon, it might be challenging to take photos without a crowd in the background; weekends in summer attract a large number of people. Specifically, there is significant tourist traffic during the summer. However, off-season, this problem doesn’t exist, but it’s worth noting that the days are quite short.

Why visit the Rock City?

Adrspach Rock City consists of rock formations built of sandstone. However, they are not small and cramped, like Błędne Skały, for example. We are dealing with a majestic, rocky reserve. Some rocks reach almost a hundred meters! Specifically, the highest rock formation, Milenci (Lovers), has a height of 81.4 meters, and the narrowest passage between the rocks is only 50 centimeters wide.

Entering the national nature reserve of Adrspach-Teplice Rocks, we enter another, fairytale world. Countless rock towers set amid beautiful nature. Undoubtedly, Adrspach is an extraordinary place that impresses tourists from around the world. Interestingly, movies like “The Chronicles of Narnia” were filmed there.

How to explore the Rock City?

Before you start exploring, go to the toilet because there are none along the trails. At the entrance, with your ticket, you can take a map with marked routes. I know that many people come with strollers; routes without stairs are also marked on the map. If you don’t have a paper map, don’t worry because signs with a map are placed every few meters. Moreover, the direction of the tour is very well marked, so you won’t get lost.

In Adrspach, there are several trails to choose from, and most importantly, you can walk all of them with one ticket. The most popular is the tourist trail through the Rock City, marked in green on the map, with a length of 3.5 km that you can cover in about 2.5-3 hours. Other trails include:

• Blue trail around the quarry, emerald lake (1.5 km)
• Yellow trail (Vlčí Gorge) leading to the Teplice rocks (5 km)
• Blue trail around the Teplické skály (6 km)

History of Adrspach

I know many will say that such an extraordinary place must have an incredible history. Interestingly, for many years, no one was interested in this place. Locals only went there during dangers and wars. This was because the place looked completely different: it was overgrown with dense forest.

Tourism began to develop around 1700, but it was only when a fire broke out in 1824, burning all vegetation, that the rocky labyrinths could be discovered. Tourist trails were established in the early 19th century.

Among the visitors were EmperorJoseph II, Austrian Emperor Charles, and Polish King Frederick August.

Attractions of Adrspach

The most famous attractions of the Rock City include the Gothic Gate, rock formations such as Dzban, Plac Słoni (Elephant Square), Ząb Liczyrzepy, and waterfalls. I’ll focus on the last one because when we were there in the middle of summer, the waterfall had practically dried up. However, in autumn, it was truly beautiful.

During the season, from May (sometimes April) to October, there is an opportunity for boat trips. From what I remember, such a cruise costs 100 crowns (around 16 zł). Many tourists say it’s a short but amusing cruise worth taking while in the Rock City.

Adrspach – Is the trail through the Rock City difficult?

As I mentioned, you can walk through the Rock City with a stroller, but not everywhere due to stairs that shorten the walking route, particularly for young parents. For this reason, if you want to go the entire tourist route, remember that the Rock City is a place for physically fit people due to a large number of steep stairs. However, these can be bypassed, so in reality, anyone can visit the Rock City.

I (as most of my regular readers know) am afraid of steep descents, so one or two moments on the trail were quite stressful for me. However, it was worth it, and apart from those exceptions, walking through the Rock City was pure pleasure for me.

As for clothing, comfortable attire and more sporty shoes should be sufficient.

Accommodation in the Rock City

There is no possibility of accommodation in the Rock City itself, but in the surrounding area, there are plenty of options. If you plan to visit the picturesque Adršpach, its vicinity is an excellent base for exploring the Rock City.

Under this link and on the map below, you can see well-rated accommodations.

Rock Cities in the Czech Republic

Is this the only Rock City in the Czech Republic? No. It’s worth noting that rock cities in the Czech Republic are not limited to Adrspach, and you can visit others, such as Teplické skály, Czech Switzerland, Kokorinsko, or Tiske Steny. Another similar place is Bohemian Paradise.

Therefore, you don’t have to end your visits to Rock Cities with just one trip. There is much to do in this area, and in Adrspach, you can stay longer and explore the surroundings.

In reality, you don’t need to travel abroad to see the wonders of nature. Rock Cities can also be found in Poland. Where? If you want to visit such places in Poland, it’s worth going to the Stołowe Mountains, for example, to Błędne Skały. Interestingly, “The Chronicles of Narnia” were also filmed there!

See also:

Attractions of the Czech Republic – What Is Worth Seeing There?

Best Things to Do in Prague

Gifts from Czech Republic