Ralsko

A castle ruin on a 696 m cone above the former military area — a Markvartic-then-Vartenberk watch over the Lusatia road, and the highest castle hill of the region.

Ralsko is the highest point of the wooded country between Mimoň and the Lusatian border, and the ruin on its 696 m summit watched the trade road north for the Markvartic clan — tradition names Heřman of Ralsko as founder — and later for the Vartenberks, who held it as one of a chain of border fortresses; a stone castle is documented here by the 14th century. The hill stands inside the former Ralsko military area, which kept it wild: the climb is steep, the woods around are empty, and the broken towers have real atmosphere, especially in bad weather when the summit sits in cloud. In clear conditions the view runs from the Lužické hory to Bezděz and Ještěd.