Růžovský Hill

Růžovský Hill

Růžák Nature Reserve (118 ha) – the highest point of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park (619 m) and the dominant feature of the entire area. It is the most massive Tertiary basalt igneous rock in the entire Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland. The subject of protection here are preserved natural forest communities with a primeval forest character and with characteristic plant species such as fragrant marigold, single-flowered striated grass, mountain sedge, nine-leafed and bulbous hippeastrum, etc. We can also find characteristic inhabitants of preserved deciduous forests here, such as the wood pigeon, grey woodpecker, common dormouse, rusty bat or mountain newt. Previously, there was a cottage with a lookout tower on the top. Today, it is a mature beech forest, without a view.

Due to its isolated location and dominant position in the landscape, Růžovský Hill is called the “Děčín Fujiyama”. The similarity to the distant Asian volcano is demonstrated not only by its majestic appearance, but also by its common volcanic origin.

From the village of Růžová, a yellow-marked trail leads to the summit with a total elevation gain of approximately 270 meters. The ascent route to Růžovský vrch leads to the fields east of the village. From here, you can get your first view of the monumental hill with slopes more than 250 meters high. This view is especially outstanding in the afternoon, when the sun is at your back. The actual ascent begins after almost three kilometers of walking, when you first find yourself at the foot. The terrain rises steeply here, which is due to the presence of a lava body made of hard basalt, which once penetrated the sandstone layers and solidified in them as a subsurface volcanic stump. Even before the first switchbacks, you will be greeted by a sign of a protected area, which reveals that Růžák is a national nature reserve, one of the most important in the entire Ústí nad Labem Region. It covers an area of ​​118 hectares and covers practically the entire hill.