At the lookout towers around here, no weather conditions should catch you off guard. And even if they do, just wait it all out under the roof and enjoy the view a little longer.
The best way to shake off the gloom caused by an unexpected snowfall is to visit the legendary 700-meter peak of the Lusatian Mountains – Hvozd. It stands tall on the Czech-German border, allowing you to check off a visit to a foreign country. “Bear one another’s burdens.” These are the words of the iconic inscription, written in both German and Czech, on the massive wooden cross standing atop Hvozd. And now for the lookout tower – it looks familiar, we hear you say? No wonder, it is actually the younger twin of the lookout tower on Jedlová! From the tower and the area below it, you can enjoy spectacular views of Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland, the Zittau Mountains, Upper Lusatia, Oybin, the Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, the Jizera Mountains, and the Krkonoše Mountains.
Speaking of Jedlová, it is a great place to visit in any weather. Nicknamed the “Lookout Tower with a Crown,” it offers a truly magnificent view, allowing you to see wonders in every direction: Sněžka, the Ore Mountains, Milešovka, the Jizera Mountains, Tolštejn, and – off course – the entire Lusatian Mountains.
Lookout towers are definitely not a thing of the past. One of the newest ones in the Lusatian Mountains stands in Sloup v Čechách – called Na Stráži, it is actually a mobile transmitter clad in spruce planks. Here, at a place where the pleasant has been merged with the practical, and you can enjoy views of the rock castle and the forest theater in Sloup as well as the famous landmarks of the Lusatian Mountains – Klíč, Hvozd, and Luž.
The youngest lookout tower of them all is actually located on Luž. Opened in 2020, its appearance might be quite intimidating to some, but the view! It was already spectacular from here before the tower was built, but now? The entire Lusatian Mountains all the way to Bezděz, the České Středohoří, Říp, the Krkonoše Mountains, and the Jizera Mountains in the palm of your hand…
If you are looking for something unique, be sure to visit the lookout tower in Jablonné v Podještědí. Standing on the site of a former church and brewery, this Baroque tower offers a magical view of Jablonné v Podještědí and the rolling landscape of the Lusatian Mountains. In addition to the views, you will also feel a touch of history here – remains of virtually every architectural style can be found in the area.
Vlčí Hora (Wolf Mountains) commands respect just by its name alone. The lookout tower stands on a basalt outcrop near Krásná Lípa, and at first glance, its architecture might make you feel a bit nostalgic. In addition to wolves, the area also offers beautiful views of Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland, the Šluknov region, the Lusatian Mountains, and the Krkonoše Mountains.
As usual, we left the best for last! There is a little Eiffel Tower on Studenec. As you climb up to the platform of the green cast-iron lookout tower, you will feel a bit like you are entering the Paris Metro, but do not be fooled. You are still in the Lusatian Mountains, at a spot with a beautiful – though fleeting – view. Make sure to visit before the surrounding trees come into leaf and block the views until next winter. The Jizera Mountains, the Krkonoše, the Czech Central Mountains, and Ještěd, laid out beautifully before you.
No, we have not forgotten about the Dymník lookout tower above Rumburk. What is the view from there like, we hear you ask? You can get an idea from the featured image. Well then, head up to the lookout towers and have some fun!
