Číčov is a small but strikingly distinctive peak in the Bohemian Central Uplands, treasured by nature lovers for its rare steppe plants and aragonite crystals hidden within basalt cracks. It's a hill that packs a surprising amount of natural wonder into a tiny area.

The summit rises above the villages of Kozly and Hořenec, flanked by neighboring hills Dlouhá hora, Svinky and Vraník. Its sun-baked slopes are covered in dry grassland vegetation, where the endemic Bohemian meadow pasqueflower blooms in spring and feather grass sways in summer. The landscape has a raw, steppe-like character quite unlike typical Czech forests — especially striking at sunset, when the basalt rocks glow warm shades of orange and gold.

How to reach the summit

• Hořenec village — no marked trail, narrow path up the eastern slope, approx. 20-30 minutes, moderately demanding due to the steep, rocky ascent

Practical information

• The summit and surrounding slopes have been a protected nature reserve since 1951 (5.61 ha) — picking plants or leaving the marked path is prohibited
• No official waymarked hiking trails lead to the top — some route-finding is required

Číčov is one of the few places in the Czech Republic where crystalline aragonite can be found in basalt fissures — a real treat for geology enthusiasts.