Walks in the Prague parks (II) – Prosecké skály – a 4 km visit to Prague’s sandstone rocks

• The Prosecké skály is a small protected nature area in the the northern Prague suburbs, on a raised terrace overlooking the main city. It is popular with local residents who live in the surrounding area, but otherwise is mostly ignored by non local walkers. This is a shame as the Prosek rocks, with their unique geology and appearance, are definitely worth adding to any exploration of Prague’s parks.
• A short marked trail leads to the main rock areas, and various unmarked trails explore the surrounding woods. The low sandstone cliffs in the park are the consequence of sediments deposited in the shallow tropical sea which filled the Bohemian basin (which stretched from Prague to the Krkonoše mountains to the north) in the Cretaceous geological period, 90 million years ago.
• The Prosek rocks are unusual in that they represent deposits laid down at the very beginning of the period when the basin was filling up. The lowest (and oldest) layers of sandstone are visibly whiter, and are believed to represent the stage when the basin was only filled with freshwater (ie it was a large shallow lake) . The slightly younger sandstone deposits are more yellow or rust coloured, and were laid down in a marine environment, the rising sea levels having now flooded the whole basin.
• The appearance of the rocks todays has been dramatically influenced by quarrying that took place probably from the 18th century. The sandstone cliffs are riddled with holes, caves and tunnels, none of which appear to be natural.
• The rocks are best approached from the south, and the proposed walk starts and finishes at the Vysočanská metro station (or at the Nádraží Vysočany tram stop on Sokolovská street).
• After a short section along the Rokytka stream , the route traverses the Podviní recreation park, then climbs up to the Prosek ridge alongside the bobsleigh track , and the vineyard area of Máchalka (one of Prague’s sixteen vineyards) before reaching the rock area. The circuit in the rocks itself is less than 1 km.
• The paths on the 4.5km route are good but unpaved, and involves a total of 100m climbing.

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’  to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

• From the Vysočanská metro station walk along Sokolovská street following the BLUE hiking trail
• After 600m the road crosses the Rokytka stream, and the trail turns right to follow the stream
• Take the path along the stream for 250m and then cross the stream on the footbridge to enter the Podviní recreation park
• Cross the park, passing the recreated Celtic ‘fort’ on the right, to rejoin the BLUE hiking trail at the Podvinný mlýn street
• Continue on the BLUE trail under the railway and then climb up the hill alongside the bobsleigh track. At the top of the track is the entrance to the Máchalka winery
• Cross Prosecká street and, still following the BLUE trail, enter the park area of Prosecké skály, reaching the hiking signpost (and intersection with the YELLOW trail) after 200m
• Continue on the BLUE trail for 300m, passing under the cliffs and then turn right off the marked trail and follow this path for 150m to the Vyhlídka Emy Destinnové (viewpoint). Shortly after the viewpoint, the path joins the YELLOW hiking trail at the street of Nad Kundratkou
• Follow the YELLOW trail along the street for 400m , re-entering the park area, and return to the BLUE trail at the Prosecké skály hiking signpost
• Return back along the BLUE trail for 120m, and just before the trail reaches the Na rozhraní street, turn sharply left on the unmarked footpath which leads uphill, with one section of steps, through the houses, to reach after 300m the street of U Prosecké školy
• Turn right along the street, passing the Zlaté sele restaurant on the left, to reach after 200m the pedestrian square of old Prosek. Here turn right onto the YELLOW trail and follow this down the hill
• After 600m reach the train station of Praha-Vysočany. Pass under the railway lines and continue on the YELLOW trail for another 300m to reach Sokolovská street. The tram and metro stops are now close by.