Rokytnice nad Jizerou is a charming tourist town and a large ski resort in the Giant Mountains in northern Bohemia. It is situated at the foot of such peaks as: Lysa hora (1,344 m above sea level), Certova hora (1,020 m above sea level) and Straz (782 m above sea level). That is why it is extremely popular among lovers of winter mountain tourism. Here's what you need to know before you go there.
Where exactly is the town of Rokytnice nad Jizerou located?
The Rokytnice nad Jizerou ski complex is located on the eastern (left) bank of the Jizera River, 5 km south of Harrachov. The town has just under 3,000 inhabitants.
What is the history of the town? Well, it was established in the mid-16th century, specifically in 1574, as a center for copper, silver and lead mining, as well as wood, glassmaking and weaving. In the 19th century, the textile industry developed, and in the next century the first hotels and ski lifts were built.
What interesting facts about the town of Rokytnice nad Jizerou are worth knowing? The name Rokytnice nad Jizerou comes from the original name of the village Rokytnice. The adjective "rokytna" meant water flowing between willows. After the Thirty Years' War, the region of the town of Rokytnice nad Jizerou was predominantly Protestant. The development of the town was facilitated by the construction of a railway line, inaugurated in 1988, serving the route: Martinice in the Giant Mountains - Rokytnice nad Jizerou.
What are the most important monuments and attractions of Rokytnice nad Jizerou?
When visiting Rokytnice nad Jizerou, it is worth seeing up close such objects as:
- the town hall in the Art Nouveau style, built in 1903, whose undoubted attraction for visitors is the 37-meter-high tower (Entry to the tower is possible through the turnstile located on the footbridge in the attic of the town hall. In front of the turnstile, on the right side, there is a ticket office, to which To enter, you must throw in a token, which can be purchased for 40,- CZK at the Information Center on the ground floor of the town hall, or you can throw in coins worth 40,- CZK (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 CZK - the machine does not return change) . Admission to the tower is limited to a maximum of 10 people),
- catholic church of st. Michael, which was built in 1758 on the site of the former Orthodox church from 1598,
- cemetery,
- wooden folk cottages (roubnky),
- abandoned industrial facilities,
- roadside shrines, of which there are at least five,
- sports Hall,
- several educational paths.
What interesting things does the ski town offer?
The Rokytnice nad Jizerou ski area has a total of over 16 kilometers of ski slopes. They are located within several resorts, the largest of which are "Horni Domky" and the Studenov ski resort.
There are 29 ski lifts - T-bar and plate lifts - located in the vicinity of the town of Rokytnice nad Jizerou. Their total capacity reaches 14,000 people per hour. The area around the town of Rokytnice nad Jizerou also has three illuminated ski slopes and cross-country trails in the "U kaplicky" and "Pod Dvorackami" complexes.
Lovers of white madness will find perfectly prepared cross-country trails and ski slopes, which are artificially snowed by snow cannons in case of lack of snow. Comprehensive care is provided by ski services (skiservis), i.e. service for not only downhill skis, but also cross-country skis, as well as ski rentals that offer snowboards, downhill and cross-country skis as well as poles, carvings, ski boots, cross-country shoes and ski clothing.
In "Horni Domki" there is the second largest chairlift in the Czech Republic, with a length of exactly 2,198 meters. The lift consists of 114 detachable 4-seater carriages and one service carriage and leads to the peak of Lysa Hora.
Many people are probably wondering where they can stay overnight when visiting Rokytnice nad Jizerou? There is no doubt that the surroundings of the town have a developed accommodation base. There are about 10 hotels and numerous guesthouses here. Visitors to the town can also choose private accommodation, apartments, hostels and cottages.
What else is worth seeing? Huťský waterfall, Studenov, Rezek, Dvoračky, the source of the Elbe and magical mountain panoramas are all within easy reach. On site you can enjoy horse riding, bowling, a bobsleigh track, go-karts, tennis courts and climbing walls.