Roudnice nad Labem

Roudnice nad Labem

Roudnice nad Labem, one of the oldest towns in Czechia, is located on the right bank of the Elbe River. The first mention comes from the 12th century and it flourished in the 14th century when Bishop Jan IV of Dražice established an Augustinian monastery. In 1603, the Lobkowitz family took control of the town.

A town with history

Roudnice nad Labem is only a 45-minute drive from Prague. Cyclists following the Elbe Cycle Route will pass this interesting town, too. During the Thirty Years War, Roudnice was considered one of the most important strategic points in Bohemia. The Swedish army also conquered Roudnice. The town is also the starting point for the journey to the mythical Říp mountain.

Roudnice Castle

In the late 12th century, the bishop of Prague had a Romanesque castle built on a rocky hill overlooking the Elbe River. The town became a popular residence of the Prague bishops and later the archbishops, who owned the town. Master Jan Hus was probably ordained a priest here, and Emperor Charles IV also spent some time at the castle.

This castle was later expanded in Gothic style. In the 16th century, the Renaissance wing was added. When the Lobkowicz family took control of the palace, the palace was completely rebuilt in the Baroque style from 1652 and 1684. The palace consists of four wings that surround the courtyard garden. At the time of World War II, the palace was a barracks for German soldiers and later belonged to the Czechoslovak army. Until 2009 it housed the military conservatory. After 2009, the palace came back into the possession of Lobkowitz family. Today the castle is open to visitors and you can take a guided tour. Near the castle is also a small vineyard where wine tastings and festivals take place.

The Belfry Tower

The Belfry tower (Hláska tower) in Roudnice nad Labem is the only remaining monument of the old defenses. Tower guards kept an eye on the area for enemies and fire. Later in the 18th century, it was used as a water reservoir for the fountain at the square nearby. The tower is open to visitors.

The Kratochvíl observation tower

The watchtower was built in 1934. So Roudnice could boast of a beautiful view and quality architectural work. It bears its name after the bank's founder, Václav Kratochvíl. It is a purely functionalist building. The Kratochvíl watchtower, along with the watchtower on Mostná Hora in Litoměřice is the lowest watchtower in the Czech Republic (230 m above sea level).

Říp Mountain

Říp is a pointed hill that you can see from afar. It is a basalt mound with a Romanesque rotunda at the top. It is located 5 km from Roudnice nad Labem in the Central Bohemian Highlands. Říp is an important place for the Czechs. Indeed, the story goes that the ancestor of the Bohemian king arrived here saw the landscape and said "this is the land where we should settle". In addition to a rotunda on the 456-m-high peak, there is a chapel dedicated to St. George and St. Adalbert, the patron saints of the Bohemian country.