Lookout tower in Varhošť near Litoměřice

It is an iron lookout tower on a stone foundation, located at an altitude of 639 meters on the hill Varhošť, about 10 km north of Litoměřice.

The lookout tower was opened to the public in 1973. Its viewing platform is located at a height of 15 meters, leading to 68 steps. After their hike, you will have a beautiful circular view of Litoměřice, Ústí nad Labem, České Středohoří, Dolní Poohří, Říp and more.

The best way to get to the lookout tower is from Litoměřice by road to Hlinná and Kunratice. Then continue to the end of the climb to the small parking lot. From there, continue to the left along the yellow tourist sign for about half a kilometer to the lookout tower.

The lookout tower in Vrhošť is open daily and freely accessible without restrictions.

The current lookout tower in Varhošť is the third in a row.
At the end of the 19th century, on the initiative of the Litoměřice Association for České Středohoří, a simple lookout point was built here, placed in the crowns of oaks, equipped with a viewing platform and steps. It was built here in 1891 and served until 1902, when it was dilapidated and had to be demolished.

A real lookout tower was built here in 1927. The base was a four-meter-high stone foundation, on which stood a ten-meter-high beam structure. It had three lookout floors and was opened in 1927. After 1945, however, it was rather dilapidated, no one cared much about its condition, and in the early 1970s it had to be demolished.

However, the construction of the third lookout tower did not take long. A steel structure weighing 13 tons was designed. It had one main pillar and also three observation decks. The steel structure was placed on the original stone foundation, where it was transported by helicopter. The ceremonial reopening of the lookout tower took place on September 22, 1973.

In 2001, the lookout tower underwent the most necessary repairs, but the major repairs of the tower did not take place until 2003. At that time, the floors were also replaced. The wooden ones replaced the galvanized gratings.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová