Schiller's lookout tower in Kryry

The lookout tower lies at an altitude of 383 meters and its total height is 27 meters. A total of 127 steps will take you to the viewing platform, located at a height of 22 meters. From here there is a wonderful view of the town of Kryry, České Středohoří, Krušné and Doupovské mountains and the Džbán mountains.

It is possible to get to the lookout tower by a dirt road from the town of Kryry. The lookout tower is relatively visible and the path to it is well marked.

The lookout tower is open from June to September on weekends from 12 noon to 4 pm.

The local massive lookout tower has stood on Kostelní vrch since 1905. It was built on the initiative of the local Ornamental Association. Its construction took place in 1905-06 according to the project of Alois Kaiser from Vienna. The grand opening took place on June 17, 1906 and was attended by several thousand tourists. That year, the German poet Friedrich Schiller celebrated the 100th anniversary of his birth, so the locals decided to name it after him. The lookout tower was 27 meters high and the Schiller Memorial was located on the ground floor.

Over time, however, the lookout tower fell into oblivion. At first it lost its wooden observation deck and after the Second World War it was completely closed. In the late 1990s, transmitters were placed on top of it. In 2000, the reconstruction of the internal plaster and staircase was completed. The reopening of the lookout tower took place on July 15, 2000.
The lookout tower underwent further repairs in 2005-06. At that time, it was again provided with a wooden gallery and new coatings. The ceremony on this occasion was set for 27 May 2006.

At present, the operator of the lookout tower is the town hall in Kryry and the Junák organization.

Author: Andrea Štyndlová