Trosky Castle: History, Opening Hours and How to Visit from Prague

Trosky Castle (hrad Trosky) is a 14th-century castle ruin in Bohemian Paradise, about 95 km north-east of Prague, built on top of two volcanic basalt plugs. Its two towers — the taller Panna ("the Maiden") and the lower Baba ("the Old Woman") — are visible from much of northern Bohemia and are the symbol of the region. In 2026 the castle is open from 2 April to 1 November; adult admission is 180 CZK, and you can climb the Baba tower (138 steps) for one of the best views in Czechia. It is closed in winter.

Trosky is the last stop on my Bohemian Paradise day trips, and it's the moment when even quiet guests start taking photos non-stop. Here's how to plan a visit.

Trosky Castle at a glance

Where	Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj), between Turnov and Jičín, above the village of Troskovice
Distance from Prague	~95 km, about 1 h 15 min – 1.5 h by car
Built	around 1380–1390 by Čeněk of Vartenberk
Towers	Panna (the Maiden), ~57 m above the surrounding terrain; Baba (the Old Woman), ~47 m
Season 2026	2 April – 1 November; closed in winter
Admission (2026)	180 CZK adults; 140 CZK ages 18–24 and 65+; 50 CZK children 6–17; free under 6
Visit	Self-guided, about 40 minutes inside; no reservation needed
Walk from the car park	~500 m uphill on a paved forest path (10–15 min)
Owner	Czech state (National Heritage Institute, NPÚ)

Why Trosky looks the way it does

The castle sits on two basalt volcanic plugs — the hardened insides of volcanoes that were active here millions of years ago. The softer rock around them eroded away, leaving two steep stone fingers sticking out of the gentle landscape. Someone in the 14th century looked at them and thought: perfect place for a castle.

• Panna (the Maiden) is the higher, narrower peak. Its four-sided tower had three floors and probably held the castle chapel.
• Baba (the Old Woman) is lower and wider, with a five-sided, two-storey tower.
• The two were connected by walls, palaces and courtyards in between. Today you walk through the lower courtyards between them.

The Panna tower of Trosky Castle on its basalt pinnacle above the fields and villages of Bohemian Paradise

A short history of Trosky Castle

• 1380s–1390s: Čeněk of Vartenberk builds the castle on the two basalt peaks. The project nearly ruins him: in 1394 he hands it over to King Wenceslas IV, who sells it a few years later to the lords of Bergov.
• Hussite wars: the Bergovs keep Trosky as a Catholic stronghold. Hussite armies besiege it in 1424 and 1428 — and never take it. The two peaks made it almost impossible to storm.
• 1438–1444: robber knights led by Kryštof Šof use it as a base for raids on the surrounding country.
• 1469: royal forces of George of Poděbrady capture the castle.
• 1559 onwards: it passes to the Smiřický family and later to the Wallensteins. During the Thirty Years' War Swedish troops plunder it, and around 1648 it burns and is abandoned.
• 19th century: the Romantics fall in love with the ruin. From 1821 the Aehrenthal family builds paths and viewpoints and invites visitors — Trosky becomes one of the first tourist destinations in Bohemia.
• 1925: the castle becomes state property.
• Today: about 100,000 people a year visit. Gamers may recognise it from Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

The legend of the Maiden and the Old Woman

Every Czech child knows a version of this one. In the Hussite wars, the story goes, a pious Catholic widow lived in the lower tower and her granddaughter, who sided with the Hussites, lived in the higher one. They refused to speak to each other, each locked in her own tower — and the towers have been called "the Old Woman" and "the Maiden" ever since.

It's folklore, not history; the simpler explanation is that the slim, tall tower reminded people of a young girl and the stocky one of an old woman. But it's a good story to tell while you look up at them.

What you can see and climb

• Baba tower: climb 138 steps to a viewing gallery (rebuilt in 2024). On a clear day you'll see Ještěd above Liberec, the Krkonoše mountains, the Kozákov ridge and the rock towns of Bohemian Paradise all around.
• Panna tower: closed to the public — you admire it from below. (Some websites claim you can climb both towers; you can't.)
• The Aehrenthal viewpoint below Panna, by the remains of the old palace.
• The courtyards and walls between the two peaks.
• A refreshment kiosk in the first courtyard.

Dogs are not allowed on the viewpoints or their staircases.

Opening hours 2026

Month	Days	Hours
April	weekends and holidays	9:00–16:00
May	Tuesday–Sunday	9:00–16:30
June	Tuesday–Sunday	9:00–17:30
July – August	daily	9:00–17:30
September	Tuesday–Sunday	9:00–16:00
October	weekends and holidays; daily 26 Oct – 1 Nov	9:00–16:00
November – March	closed	—

Tickets are sold at the castle (card or cash) and online on the official site hrad-trosky.cz. Always check the website before you go — weather and events can change the hours.

In winter the castle is closed, but the walk up to the base of the hill and around it is still beautiful, and the two towers look dramatic with snow. Combine it with Prachov Rocks, which stay open all year.

How to get to Trosky Castle from Prague

Option	Time	Good to know
Car	~1 h 15 min – 1.5 h	D10 motorway towards Turnov, exit at km 71 for Rovensko pod Troskami, then via Borek pod Troskami to Troskovice. Car park below the castle, then a 500 m walk uphill. On summer weekends the car park fills up fast.
Train	~2.5 h	Train to Turnov, change for Borek pod Troskami or Ktová; then 3.5 km on the blue or green marked trail.
Summer bus	—	In season a tourist bus links Jičín, Prachov Rocks, Troskovice and Hrubá Skála; get off at the Svitačka campsite, 1.3 km from the castle.
Guided day trip	~1.5 h	My Bohemian Paradise tour combines Prachov Rocks and Trosky with lunch, back in Prague by about 17:30.

What to combine Trosky with

• Prachov Rocks — the most spectacular rock town in the region, 20 minutes away by car. Prachov in the morning and Trosky in the afternoon light is my favourite order.
• Hrubá Skála and Valdštejn Castle — a rock town with a chateau on top and one of the oldest castles in Bohemia, 15 minutes away.
• Kost Castle — one of the best-preserved Gothic castles in Czechia, in a quiet valley.

For the whole region, read the Bohemian Paradise guide.

Tips for your visit

• Go early or late. In July and August up to 1,000 people a day visit; the gallery on Baba is small.
• Shoes: the path up and the courtyards are uneven stone — no heels.
• Wind: it's always windier at the top than in the car park. Bring a layer.
• Photos: the classic shot of both towers is from the fields between Troskovice and Rovensko, or from the viewpoints in Prachov Rocks.

Frequently asked questions

Is Trosky Castle open in winter?

No. Trosky Castle is open from early April to the beginning of November (in 2026 from 2 April to 1 November) and closed from November to March. You can still walk to the base of the hill and see the towers from outside.

How much is the entrance to Trosky Castle?

In 2026 adults (25–64) pay 180 CZK, young people 18–24 and seniors 65+ pay 140 CZK, children 6–17 pay 50 CZK and children under 6 go free. There is no family ticket.

Can you climb the towers of Trosky Castle?

You can climb the lower tower, Baba, on 138 steps to a viewing gallery. The higher tower, Panna, is not open to visitors.

How long does a visit to Trosky Castle take?

About 40 minutes inside the castle, plus 10–15 minutes each way from the car park. With a coffee at the kiosk and photos, plan around 1.5 hours.

Why is Trosky Castle called Trosky?

In modern Czech "trosky" means "ruins" or "wreckage" — a fitting coincidence, but the name is older than the ruin: the castle was already called Trosky in the late 14th century, and the origin of the name isn't certain.

Can you get to Trosky Castle by public transport?

Yes, but it takes time: train from Prague to Turnov, local train to Borek pod Troskami or Ktová, then about 3.5 km on foot on a marked trail. Allow about 3 hours each way.

How far is Trosky Castle from Prague?

About 95 km — 1 h 15 min to 1.5 hours by car via the D10 motorway.