Říp Mountain, Extinct volcano in Mnetěš, Czech Republic.
Říp is an extinct volcano in the Central Bohemian Region whose basalt dome rises 461 meters (1512 feet) above the surrounding plains. A stone Romanesque rotunda stands on the summit, reachable by walking trails from several villages.
The Romanesque rotunda of Saint George and Saint Adalbert of Prague was built in 1126 by Duke Soběslav I after his victory over Emperor Lothar III at the Second Battle of Chlumec, on the site of a decayed wooden chapel from the early 11th century. Bishop Henry Zdik of Olomouc consecrated it the same year. In 1143 Duke Vladislav II gave the mountain to the newly founded Strahov Monastery.
Legend links this peak to Čech, the mythical forefather who led his people to settle in the fertile plains below. The story explains the country's name and remains alive in Czech identity to this day.
Marked walking trails lead to the summit from several starting points, with the main path beginning in Rovné village and running about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) uphill. The rotunda is usually open during the day, and the climb takes between 45 minutes and an hour.
The basalt rocks contain high concentrations of magnetite, creating a measurable magnetic anomaly in the surrounding area. Compasses sometimes show deviations near the summit, occasionally confusing visitors.
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