Říp is a solitary hill and a small nature reserve in Czech Republic, at a border between Central Bohemia and North Bohemia. It offers a good chance to hike and to have a nice view from the hilltop, but it is mainly known because of its historical and traditional importance to Czech people.

Understand

You can see Říp rising above surrounding flat from many places in Bohemia, including the country's tallest mountain Sněžka and numerous elevated locations in Prague. That is one of the reasons why Říp has come into local legends and is considered as something as "national mountain" to some Czech people.

History

According to Czech legends, the Czech nation was established on Říp. The legend says that forefather Čech (praotec Čech) led a Slavic tribe of Czechs from eastern lands. Here they ascend Říp, and on top of it, he saw the beautiful country good for settlement and pronounced it the land of Czechs.

Landscape

Říp hill

Říp is a former volcano, or, more exactly, former inside of a volcano (last eruption circa 50 millions years ago). As such, the hill is quite steep with flattened top. It rises 200 m above the surrounding area, the total height above sea level is 455 m.

Flora and fauna

Říp is covered by trees which sometimes hinder possible views, although historically it has been woodless. On places where are no trees, you can see various thermophilic plants. Stag beetle, Europe's largest insect lives here - it can grow to up to 10 cm in length. It usually inhabits old or dead trees, so look for these if you want to see it.

Climate

The climate here is the same as in the rest of Czech Republic, Říp is not tall enough to have significantly different climate. You can climb it any time of year.

Get in

By train

Podřipský Motoráček, a historical diesel train that sometimes go through the villages beneath Říp

The closest railway station is the 1 Ctiněves railway staion. , which is 2.6 km by walking from the hilltop. Another useful station is 2 Mnetěš railway staion. , which lies 3.8 km from the hilltop and lies on the same railway as Ctiněves, but using these two, you will not have to walk the same way there and back. Either way, you will have to change the train in Vraňany, if you going from Prague or Ústí nad Labem. From Prague, the journey takes 83 minutes and cost 78 Kč. Use IDOS to find a timetable.

By bus

The nearest bus station is in Ctiněves, next to the railway station. The buses go from Roudnice nad Labem, so you would have to change from train or bus there if going from further away.

By bike

Říp is doable as a bit challenging one-day trip from Prague. The surrounding terrain is flat, but the ascent up the hill is difficult on bike, you have to have strong legs, or walk the bike for the last kilometer. From Prague and back, it is around 80 km. If you do not want to bike 80 km, you can take you bike on train, ride the train to Kralupy nad Vltavou and ride the bike from there. Use mapy.cz in outdoor mode to find suitable roads for bike.

By car

If coming by car, there is a paid parking lot in Rovné, from where it is 2 km to the top. You can also in Ctiněves. The road all the way up the hill from Rovné looks tempting, but it is forbidden to use it.

Fees and permits

No fees are collected for climbing the mountain. There is a road all the way to the top, but private cars are not permitted on the road.

Get around

Cars are forbidden on the hill, so you will have to walk or bike. The only suitable road for bikes is the one from Rovné, the others are just footpaths between rocks.

See

• 1 Chapel of Saint George (Rotunda svatého Jiří), ☏ +420 724 663 757, rip@npu.cz. 10:00 - 15:00, closed during winter. One of the oldest still standing buildings in all Bohemia, build probably 1039 in Romanesque style. Also a pilgrimage site, the interior features ancient statues and wall paintings 30 Kč. (updated Oct 2018)
• 2 Roudnice outlook. As Říp is forested, you will have to walk around outlook places to see something from it. Each of them is named after town it faces. (updated Oct 2018)
• 3 Mělník outlook. (updated Oct 2018)
• 4 Prague outlook. (updated Oct 2018)

Romanesque chapel on Říp

Do

View from Roudnice outlook

Because of its statue is "Czech national mountain", Říp or the villages around are a common place for different events.

• New Year's Hike. It is quite popular to climb some or hill on New Year's Day among Czech people (those who do not suffer from hangover). Říp is one the main targets of such hikes, so there is usually a lot of people at 1 January.

Buy

During summer and when some events are taking place here, various souvenir stands are present. Otherwise, some souvenirs are sold in the restaurant on the top of the hill.

Drink

You can visit listed "Eat" places for a cold beer.

• 1 Podřípský rodinný minipivovar Ctiněves, ☏ +420 777 320 385, podripske-pivo@seznam.cz. 11ː00 - 21ː00 on weekends, 16ː00 - 21ː00 on weekdays, closed on Mondays. Or you can visit a local brewery in Ctiněves village (the one with railway station). 30 Kč for a pint. (updated Oct 2018)

Eat

There is only one option to eat on the top of the hill, but you can also get some food in the surrounding villages.

• 1 Chata Říp, ☏ +420 739 505 681, simackova.jana@gmail.com. Small restaurant right on the top serving reasonably priced meals, snacks and souvenirs. It is closed if the owner decides the weather is too bad for tourists to come. 95 Kč for a decent meal and a soft drink. (updated Oct 2018)
• 2 Hostinec Pod Řípem. 11ː00 - 21ː00. Restaurant in Rovné, the same village as the parking lot. (updated Oct 2018)
• 3 Hostinec u Praotce Čecha. Only on weekends. It is in Ctiněves, the village with railway station (updated Oct 2018)

Sleep

There are no lodging options on the hill itself, nor it is possible to wild camp there, due to the steep terrain. You can however find accommodation in surrounding villages or go to Říp as a day trip from Prague.

• 1 U Bačmana, ☏ +420 774 935 791, tomas.kricek@gmail.com. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 11ː00. The only accommodation in Ctiněves village. They have 13 beds in three rooms. 400 Kč per person. (updated Oct 2018)
• 2 Penzion Mánes (Guesthouse Mánes), ☏ +420 739 505 681, simackova.jana@gmail.com. Large guesthouse in Krabčice village 350 Kč per person in economy room and 550 Kč in hotel room. (updated Oct 2018)

Stay safe

Trying to ride a bike down from Říp other road than the paved one can be really dangerous.

Go next

• Roudnice nad Labem - nearest larger town with historical town square and frequent train connection to Prague. 7 km
• Mělník - a city with a large chateau above Elbe and Vltava rivers. 16 km
• Kralupy nad Vltavou. 22 km
• Terezín - a town with a sad history of being a large Jewish ghetto during WWII. 33 km.
• Litoměřice - a city with winemaking tradition. 35 km