# Říčany

Říčany (Czech pronunciation:; German: Ritschan) is a town in Prague-East District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 17,000 inhabitants.
According to the national Quality of Life Index, which has been comparing the standard of living in the cities and towns of the Czech Republic since 2018, the town is rated the best place to live in the country in all years.

## Administrative division

Říčany consists of seven municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):
* Říčany (10,731)
* Jažlovice (163)
* Kuří (185)
* Pacov (1,037)
* Radošovice (2,750)
* Strašín (1,165)
* Voděrádky (413)

## Geography

Říčany is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) east of Prague. The western part of the municipal territory lies in the Prague Plateau and the eastern part in the Benešov Uplands. The highest point is at 454 m (1,490 ft) above sea level. The town lies on the stream of Říčanský potok, which supplies several small fish ponds.

## History

According to Czech Chronicle of Wenceslaus Hajek, Říčany existed already in 748. The first trustworthy written mention of the settlement is from 1289. A large castle was built here in 1260–1270, but during the Hussite Wars it was conquered and abandoned, and in the 16th century, it became a ruin.
Říčany experienced a decline after the Thirty Years' War. After the construction of Prague–Vienna railway in 1869, the town began to prosper and develop again. Luxury villas began to be built, and Říčany became a popular recreational location.

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1869 | 2,948 | — |
| 1880 | 3,102 | +5.2% |
| 1890 | 3,159 | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 3,729 | +18.0% |
| 1910 | 4,181 | +12.1% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 5,121 | +22.5% |
| 1930 | 7,900 | +54.3% |
| 1950 | 9,215 | +16.6% |
| 1961 | 9,611 | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 9,330 | −2.9% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1980 | 10,703 | +14.7% |
| 1991 | 10,650 | −0.5% |
| 2001 | 10,876 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 14,003 | +28.8% |
| 2021 | 16,444 | +17.4% |
Source: Censuses :

## Transport

The D1 motorway from Prague to Brno passes through the municipal territory.
Říčany is located on the railway line Prague–Benešov.

## Culture

* Starák – multicultural festival (beginning of August)
* Říčanský nos – town festival (beginning of September)

## Education

There are three primary schools in Říčany. The "First primary school" is located in the centre of the town, on Masarykovo Square. The "Second primary school" is located in the upper part of Říčany, Radošovice and the "Third primary school" is located on the south-east border of Říčany next to Oliva Children's Medical Institution. There are three secondary schools: the state school Gymnasium Říčany, the private Masaryk Gymnasium, and Říčany Vocational Secondary School of Catering.

## Sights

The Říčany Castle was one of the oldest stone castles in the Czech Republic. The ruins of the early Gothic castle are freely accessible.
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the town hall from 1864 are the landmarks of Masarykovo Square. The church was originally a Gothic building from around 1270. After it was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1719. The Marian column on the town square, with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary Immaculate, dates from 1699. It is a simplified copy of the column that stood on the Old Town Square in Prague.
Jureček lido in Radošovice was founded in the 1920s. Due to its age and atmosphere, it is among the most popular swimming pools in the region.

## Twin towns – sister cities

Říčany is twinned with:
* Albertslund, Denmark
* Borken, Germany
* Dainville, France
* Grabow, Germany
* Opatówek, Poland
* Whitstable, England, United Kingdom