Lookout tower on Tanvaldský Špičák

The tourist cottage with a lookout tower has been standing on Tanvaldský Špičák since 1908. It is located at an altitude of 831 meters and is situated on the Tanvaldský Špičák hill, about 4 km northwest of Tanvald and about 12 km northeast of Jablonec nad Nisou.

The tower is a total height of 18 meters and the viewing platform is located at a height of 14 meters. Inside the tower there are a total of 69 steps leading to the lookout. After overcoming them, you will have a circular view of the Jizera Mountains, Tanvald, Kozákov, Ještěd, the Giant Mountains, Jablonec nad Nisou and more.

You can reach Tanvaldský Špičák by car, if you drive up through Albrechtice. Go to the fire station. It is best to park the car near the bus stop and continue walking along the blue tourist sign.
Another option is to take the cable car from Albrechtice.
If you are walking, there is a blue tourist sign from the signpost in Albrechtice. From the Buková nad Jizerou primary school there is a green and this road is about 3 km long. The blue-marked road leading from Smržovka Elementary School is just as long.
During the 19th century, the top of Tanvaldský Špičák was divided into several narrow strips of plots, each of which was owned by a different owner. Only a few footpaths led to the top, but they were quite used by tourists. On this initiative, the four landowners in Horní Tanvald agreed on a joint construction of a shed where bottled beer would be sold. The hut was very popular, and soon another cottage was built next to it, which was owned by four other landowners. Fanter's Rock provided people with a nice view from Špičák at that time.

Both competing cottages were frequently visited and their capacity soon ceased to suffice. For this reason, the Albrechtice Section of the German Mountain Association for the Ještěd and Jizera Mountains decided to build a lookout tower on this site. However, all plans failed on the exorbitant claims of landowners. In addition, shortly afterwards, both cottages burned down and the place remained unused for a long time.

It was not until 1904 that the situation improved a bit, the owners agreed among themselves and the Old Hut - a restaurant with a picnic cottage - was built on Špičák. The fame that Stará bouda recorded was great, but unfortunately short. It burned down in 1905.

In 1907, the land was bought by the Albrecht Association and mainly the decision was made to build an auxiliary building with refreshments and a lookout tower. The foundation stone of the lookout tower was laid on July 1, 1908.

However, the construction of the lookout tower was not easy at all. E.g. the water had to be brought up by buckets, etc. Nevertheless, the tower was completed and ceremoniously opened to the public on July 4, 1909. The lookout tower attracted crowds of tourists to visit, so a restaurant was built near it next year. The association that had the buildings built on Špičák, however, was twice as good. He was heavily in debt by investing in buildings, and in addition, about half of the members had to go to the front of the First World War.

In the period after the First World War, a water supply system was installed in Špičák, the buildings connected to the lookout tower were expanded, electricity was introduced here and a toboggan run was built. The building had two guest rooms, a porch, a hall, eight guest rooms and a storage room for utensils. The building modifications from the 1930s are also the last ones that Špičák underwent.
Currently, there are ski slopes on the northern slope of Špičák and this area is also widely sought after by skiers. Due to the construction of lifts, several trees were cut down in the area, which also improved the view from the lookout tower. In 1997, a camera was placed on the lookout tower, thanks to which we can watch the view from Špičák in the Panorama program.

In 2010, a playground was built on Špičák. At present, the operation of the lookout tower is taken care of by Mr. Slavík, its tenant.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová