Lookout tower on Vlčí hora near Krásná Lípa

The lookout tower has stood here since 1889. It is brick and wooden and is located at an altitude of 581 meters. It is located on Vlčí hora near Krásná Lípa, approximately 40 km from Děčín in the northeast direction.

The lookout tower is a total of 19 meters high and at the same height there is an observation deck. 64 steps lead to it and there is a view of the Lusatian Mountains, České Středohoří, Labské pískovce, Krkonoše, Bezděz, Ještěd or Milešovka.

A nice walk to the lookout tower leads from Vlčí hora along a red and green marked hiking trail.

In the season from April to the end of September, the lookout tower is open every day from 9 am to 5.30 pm. From October until the end of March, you can only get here on weekends and public holidays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visiting the lookout tower outside this time is only possible for larger groups.

In 1887, the Mountain Association for the Northernmost Bohemia built a simple wooden tourist hut here, modified the upper part of Vlčí hora and built a road. In 1888, a brick lookout tower began to be built here.

It was completed on May 19 of the following year, when it was also ceremoniously handed over to the public for use. After the great promoter of the lookout tower, Ferdinand Michel, it became known as the Ferdinand Lookout Tower. But its appearance was completely different from the current one. It was 12 meters high and ended not with a roof, but with battlements. In 1908, it was equipped with a covered glazed superstructure, so that its height increased to 19 meters.

At the beginning of the 1920s, the original cruise restaurant was expanded mainly due to the high number of visitors to both the restaurant and the lookout tower. However, the period of glory was followed by a period of decline, which began in 1948, when the lookout tower was nationalized. Virtually no one cared for her until 1952. Then it was used by the army, which was completely devastated. In 1957, the demolition of both the cottage and the lookout tower was even considered.

In 1968, the lookout tower became private property and the condition of the buildings improved thanks to the care of Mr. Janda. He owned the buildings until 1972. At the time of his ownership, the buildings were again open to the public and de facto saved.

Despite this care, reconstruction was already necessary in the 1990s. This was done with the help of Lesy ČR, the Krásná Lípa Municipal Authority, private sponsors and craft companies. The reconstruction began in 1996 and ended in 1999. On May 22, 1999, it was ceremoniously opened to the public, exactly to mark the 110th anniversary.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová