This calm town 20 kilometers southeast of Prague has a 13th-century castle ruin, a regional museum in a historic villa, and an astronomical observatory.
ometers east of Prague, Říčany provides easy access to Central Bohemia's attractions. Walk through the partial walls of 13th-century Říčany Castle, examine the curved columns of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul on Masarykovo Square, or swim in Jureček lido's 1920s-era concrete pools. Time your visit for August's Starák festival with live bands and temporary art displays, or September's Říčanský nos event with smoked meat stalls and puppet shows. Regular trains connect to Prague's main stations in 35 minutes, and walking paths lead through pine forests and rye fields surrounding the town.
Exploring Říčany's Castle and Churches
The stone ruins of Říčany Castle rise above the town, with remaining arches and foundation walls showing its original Gothic layout. Visitors can climb the preserved tower staircase for views across red rooftops to distant hills. A five-minute walk downhill leads to Masarykovo Square, where the Church of Saints Peter and Paul displays a triangular Baroque pediment added during 18th-century renovations. Next door, the cream-colored town hall building from 1864 houses a small exhibition on local brewing history in its cellar. These three sites sit within 300 meters of each other, connected by cobbled streets lined with chestnut trees.
Swimming Areas and Forest Trails
Jureček lido maintains its original Art Deco changing cabins and two rectangular pools filled with filtered river water. Tall oaks surround the sunbathing lawns, providing shade for families picnicking on summer afternoons. Five kilometers of marked footpaths start behind the Olivovna shopping center, following the Rokytka River past willow groves and abandoned mill races. Cyclists can continue along wider trails toward Prague's eastern suburbs or south to brick observation towers in the Benešov woods. During snowy winters, these routes become packed snow tracks for sledding and ski touring.
Seasonal Festivals and Local Events
From August 4-6, the Starák festival fills the castle grounds with stages for Czech rock bands and stalls selling handmade jewelry. Children's workshops teach pottery throwing and herb weaving using plants from the castle garden. The Říčanský nos festival on September 9-10 focuses on regional foods, with butchers demonstrating traditional sausage-making and farmers offering samples of smoked cheeses. Throughout the year, the town hall hosts monthly photography exhibits documenting life in 20th-century Říčany, while the church organizes classical guitar concerts every second Sunday. Free event schedules are available at the train station information board.
Where to Stay in Říčany
Pension Centrum provides 12 basic rooms above a café near the main square, with shared bathrooms and breakfast included. Pension Kozel has larger rooms with private balconies facing a cherry orchard, plus a sauna open weekends. For self-catering, Apartment U Hřiště offers a kitchenette and playground access near the sports fields. All lodging options sit within 800 meters of the train station, letting you catch early morning services to Prague. Most properties give discounts for stays longer than three nights.
Transportation Connections
Trains depart Prague's Hlavní nádraží station every 20 minutes weekdays, stopping at Říčany's platform with vending machines for return tickets. Drivers take exit 21 from the D1 motorway, following blue signs to the town center's paid parking lot. From Václav Havel Airport, take bus 191 to Zličín metro station, transfer to line B toward Černý Most, then catch a train from Libeň station. Local buses to hiking trailheads leave from stop #3 outside the Kaufland supermarket every two hours.
