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Castles on volcanic rocks
The Bohemian Central Uplands (České středohoří) are an ancient volcanic landscape: some 40 to 20 million years ago, magma forced its way up through the deposits of the Cretaceous period. Erosion has worn away the softer rocks all around – leaving the hard volcanic vents of basalt or phonolite (clinkstone, in Czech “znělec”, because it rings brightly when struck), which today rise steeply out of the landscape as cones. For medieval castle builders they were ideal: steep slopes, sweeping views over the Elbe and the trade routes, and the building material right there on the spot. The finest castles on them: Schreckenstein, Hasenburg, Wostrey, Kostial, Kamaik, Wopparn, Kostenblatt, Tollenstein, Bösig and Trosky – and on the Saxon side, Stolpen.
Schreckenstein (Střekov)
Schreckenstein castle stands on a phonolite cliff some 100 m above the right bank of the Elbe in Ústí nad Labem. King John of Luxembourg had it built in 1316–1319 to secure the trade route along the Elbe; later it belonged to the Wartenbergs and the Lobkowicz family. Badly damaged in the Thirty Years’ War and the Seven Years’ War, it fell into ruin – and was made famous by the Romantics: Richard Wagner worked on “Tannhäuser” here in 1842, and Ludwig Richter’s “Crossing at the Schreckenstein” hangs in the Galerie Neue Meister in Dresden. Today the ruin once again belongs to the Lobkowicz family and is open to visitors. About 35 km from the Bielatal via Petrovice.
Hasenburg (Hazmburk)
The Hasenburg crowns a 418 m basalt hill near Klapý and can be recognised from far away. It was founded in the 13th century; from 1335 it belonged to Zbyněk Zajíc of Waldeck – “zajíc” means hare, hence the name (Hare Castle). The Hussites besieged it several times but never took it; in 1586 it is described as “desolate”. Two towers still stand today: the 25 m Black Tower of dark basalt, later used as a prison, and the 26 m White Tower with its pale sandstone upper section, now a lookout tower. About 75 km from the Bielatal.
Wostrey (Ostrý)
The ruin of Wostrey sits on a pointed, free-standing basalt cone (553 m) near Milešov. Václav Kaplíř of Sulevice built the castle around 1433, in the last years of the Hussite Wars, and designed it entirely with those turbulent times in mind. As early as 1565 it is mentioned as abandoned. Walls, bastions, gates and remains of the great hall survive – and the view across to the Milleschauer (Milešovka) is glorious. About 55 km from the Bielatal.
Kostial (Košťálov)
The ruin of Košťálov stands on a rocky basalt summit of a good 481 m near Třebenice. Who built the castle in the 14th century is unclear; an owner is first recorded in 1372, and later it belonged to the Zajíc of Hasenburg and the Kaplíř families. In 1422 the Hussites besieged it in vain. Today only the ruin of the residential tower still rises on the summit. About 65 km from the Bielatal.
Kamaik (Kamýk)
High above the right bank of the Elbe near Litoměřice, the remains of Kamaik castle are enthroned on a steep basalt cone. In 1319 King John of Luxembourg gave it to Heinrich of Kamýk; it is said to have secured the Elbe tolls. In the Thirty Years’ War Saxon troops plundered the castle, after which it fell into ruin. What survives is mainly part of the pentagonal residential tower; the ruin is freely accessible but not maintained – take care when climbing around. About 55 km from the Bielatal.
Wopparn (Oparno)
Oparno castle stands on a narrow rocky ridge above the romantic Oparno valley, a spur of the basalt hill Lovoš near Lovosice. It belonged to the lords of Vchynice, from whom the Kinsky family later descended; in 1344 Smil of Vchynice built living quarters here, and as early as around 1530 the castle is described as “desolate”. Sturdy walls and vaulted cellars survive. The ruin lies on the “Golden Path of the Land of Castles” hiking trail (Zlatá stezka Zemí hradů, 93 km from Budyně to Úštěk and Ronov). About 55 km from the Bielatal.
Kelch (Kalich)
The Kalich above Třebušín is a Hussite castle: Jan Žižka had it built after 1421 on the 538 m hill, and the name “Kelch” (Chalice) stands for the symbol of the Hussites. Strictly speaking it is not basalt: the castle’s own website calls the hill a trachyte hill – also a volcanic rock. Towards the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century the castle was abandoned; today you can see ramparts, remains of walls and a gatehouse. About 60 km from the Bielatal.
Kostenblatt (Kostomlaty pod Milešovkou)
Kostomlaty castle stands on a phonolite hill at the foot of the Milleschauer. The lords of Osek built it in the first half of the 14th century, probably on the site of an older Slavic fort; in 1335 it belonged to Margrave Charles, later Emperor Charles IV. It was abandoned in the 16th century. Today an association looks after the ruin, which is freely accessible all year round. About 50 km from the Bielatal via Teplice.
Tollenstein (Tolštejn)
In the Lusatian Mountains near Jiřetín pod Jedlovou, Tollenstein castle stands on a massive phonolite dyke around 30 million years old, with beautiful columns. It is first mentioned in 1337 and guarded the trade route between Bohemia and Upper Lusatia; its owners were the Wartenbergs, the Berka of Dubá family and, from 1481, the Saxon Schleinitz family. In 1642 the Swedes burned it down. Since the Romantic era there has been a mountain inn at the top, and from the viewing platform at 670 m you can see far across northern Bohemia. About 60 km from the Bielatal.
Bösig (Bezděz)
High above Lake Mácha rise the two volcanic peaks of the Great (603 m) and Little Bösig – geologically trachyte grading into phonolite. King Přemysl Ottokar II had the castle built from 1264; in 1279 Otto of Brandenburg held the young King Wenceslas II captive here. Later the Bösig was a place of pilgrimage with a monastery. The castle is one of the best-preserved 13th-century castles in Bohemia and is open to visitors. About 95 km from the Bielatal – a long day trip.
Trosky
The emblem of the Bohemian Paradise stands on two basalt vents: on the lower one the tower “Baba” (the Old Woman), on the higher one the tower “Panna” (the Maiden). Čeněk of Wartenberg founded the castle in the second half of the 14th century; during the Hussite Wars it was a Catholic stronghold, and in 1648 the imperial army burned it down. Today it is open to visitors. About 150 km from the Bielatal – better suited to a separate day out.
For comparison
Stolpen castle in Saxony: On the Saxon side, too, there is a castle standing on basalt: Stolpen. Its hill is the remnant of a volcano that broke through the granite some 25 million years ago. In 1546 Georgius Agricola used the word “basalt” here for the very first time – which is why the Stolpen castle hill is regarded as the type locality of all the basalts in the world. The castle is built from the basalt columns found on the spot, and its well, more than 84 m deep, is considered the deepest basalt well on earth. About 40 km from the Bielatal via Pirna.
As of: 10/2026
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