Bohemian paradise from a bird's eye view
A very nice experience that you can experience in the Bohemian Paradise is a balloon flight. It is most often flown in its central part around Hrubá Skála and Trosek. With good visibility, you have a view of tens of kilometers around. The actual flight takes about an hour, but expect at least three hours to prepare the balloon and transport it to and from the place of take-off.
Preparation of a hot air balloon
After the group meeting, they move to the place of take-off, which is determined by the current air situation. After selecting the take-off meadow, the balloon unfolds and air is blown into it with the help of a fan (still cold)
Launch of a hot air balloon
After enough air is forced inside the balloon by the fan, the burners gradually heat up. Then the passengers get on slowly. It usually flies 4–6 and the balloon captain
View of Vyskeř
The balloon rises and with a rapidly increasing meter opens a wide view of the Bohemian Paradise. The Vyskeř hill with a chapel at the top will appear first
Surrounding balloons
Usually at least four hot air balloons take off at once, so the others pose nicely to you during your flight.
View of Ralsko and Lusatian mountains
Looking northwest, you can see the peaks of the Lusatian Mountains on the horizon
View of Bezděz and Kokořínsko
To the southwest you can see the large Komárovský pond and then the famous castle and hill Bezděz. The peaks of the Kokořín region and the Bohemian Central Mountains are lost in the haze
View of Ještěd
To the north is a beautiful view of the long Ještěd ridge
View of Sobotka and Humprecht
To the southeast is an agricultural landscape. The hunting lodge Humprecht and the town of Sobotka can be seen on the horizon
View of Kost Castle
The famous Kost Castle does not stand on a high hill like other castles, but was defended by valleys with ponds, which could be drained so that the castle stood like an island surrounded by water. It was never recharged
Flight over the Pekař Gate
The flight over the Pekař Gate is also interesting, a well-known rock formation through which a road tunnel was pierced.
View of the Podtrosecké valley
The balloon is slowly approaching the icon of the Bohemian Paradise – Trosky Castle. In front of it is a system of picturesque ponds
View of Kozákov and Jizera Mountains
To the north you can see the highest hill of the Bohemian Paradise – Kozakov. The Jizera Mountains, which form the border with Poland, are on the horizon
The highest height
We reach about 700 meters above the surrounding terrain, which is the highest altitude of this trip. The view is just like from the plane
View of Hrubá skála
Deep below us is the Hrubá skála chateau and the famous Hruboskalské rock town
Trosky Castle in the last light
Thanks to the favorable wind and the skill of the captain, we arrive in the last rays of light to the icon of the Bohemian Paradise – the ruins of the castle Trosky
Balloon landing
After an hour of flight, at dusk we land in a field not far from Rokytnický pond. The landing is absolutely smooth.