Bismarck's lookout tower on Háj near Aš

Bismarck's lookout tower is located on the hill Háj, about 2.5 km north of Aš and about 25 km northwest of Cheb. It was built in 1902/1903 and inaugurated on June 19, 1904.

The lookout tower is located at an altitude of 758 meters and its total height is 34 meters. 122 steps lead you to a viewing platform at a height of 25 meters. From the lookout tower you will have a beautiful view of the Ore Mountains, Domovské vrchy, Český and Slavkovský les and the town of Aš.

The lookout tower can be easily reached directly from the center of Aš following the blue tourist sign. This road leads north and is about 2.5 km long. It is a classic asphalt road, so you can get to the lookout tower by car.

From April to the end of October, you can visit the lookout tower every day from 9 am to 5 pm. During the summer months, it is open until 7 pm. From November to March, the lookout tower is closed to the public.

Bismarck's lookout tower is located on the Smrčina mountain range, specifically on its highest Czech part, on the Háj hill. In addition, this lookout tower boasts the title of the westernmost observation tower in the Czech Republic.

In 1861, the town of Aš bought the land needed to build a lookout tower on Háj Hill. Their goal was to build a rest zone, while the first mentions and the intention to build a lookout tower here occur only in connection with the year 1874, when the fund was established because of this. Unfortunately, funding for construction was still insufficient and was not enough even after twenty years.

The turn for the better did not occur until 1895, when Otto von Bismarck's 80th birthday celebrations took place. The Committee for the Construction of the Lookout Tower asked for and encouraged local citizens to contribute financially to the construction of the lookout tower. After accumulating a sufficient amount of money, the project was completed by Wilhelm Kreis and construction could begin.

The lookout tower was to bear the name of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
Construction began in the autumn of 1902. The rough construction was completed in October of the following year, but the construction of the tower was postponed a bit due to the need to lighten the vault. Granite blocks were used as building material, to a lesser extent bricks and, of course, lime and cement and others. The first visitors visited the tower on December 25, 1903 after paying an entrance fee of 10 pennies. The official opening of the lookout tower took place on June 19, 1904.

The lookout tower has enjoyed extraordinary popularity since its inception. It was even said that whoever was not in Hája was not in Aš. It has even been said that whoever goes to Háj every day will live to be 90 years old.

In 1913, the lookout tower was provided with a bronze relief by Otto von Bismarck, made by sculptor Albrecht Gerold. After the Second World War, however, it was removed from the lookout tower again.

In 2004, on the occasion of the celebration of the centenary of the lookout tower, the surrounding trees were cut down and the view from the lookout tower was improved.

In 2009, the road to the lookout tower was repaired and at the same time a sports complex began to be built under Hájem.

The current owner of the lookout tower is the town of Aš.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová