Observation towers
Discover panoramic views in the Orlické Mountains and the Podorlicko region
Lookout towers in the Orlické Mountains and the Podorlicko region offer a peaceful place to pause and take in the landscape from a bird’s-eye view. You’ll find traditional stone structures as well as modern towers made of wood and steel. Each one offers a different view, a different route, a different atmosphere. Whether you set out for a short walk or an all-day trip, lookout towers are a natural destination where you can stay for a while, look around, and take in the landscape in all its full beauty.
Vrchmezí Observation Tower
At the summit of Vrchmezí (1,084 m above sea level), the fifth-highest mountain in the Orlické Mountains and also the highest point of the Polish part of the range, a new wooden observation tower has been rising since 2020. It stands just a few metres from the Czech–Polish border and continues the historic tradition of tourist structures in this area. The tower, 25.5 metres tall, offers a viewing platform at a height of 18.5 metres, from which panoramic views open up of the Orlické Mountains, the Krkonoše Mountains, the Bystrzyckie Mountains and the Table Mountains, and the Kłodzko Valley.
Šibeník Lookout Tower
On the summit of Šibeník Hill (655 m above sea level), near Nový Hrádek in the Orlické Mountains, you’ll find a unique observation tower created in 2020 by converting the mast of a former wind turbine. This 47-metre-high tower, designed by architect Pavel Suchý, offers an observation deck at a height of 32 metres, accessible via a spiral staircase or a footbridge from the adjacent information centre. From the tower, a panoramic view opens up over the Orlické Mountains, the Krkonoše Mountains, the Železné Mountains, Kunětická hora, Hradec Králové, and in good visibility as far as Ještěd.
Velká Deštná lookout tower
The summit of Velká Deštná (1,115 m above sea level), the highest mountain in the Orlické Mountains, has boasted a modern lookout tower since October 2019, which quickly became one of the most visited tourist destinations in the region. This 19-metre-high tower, designed by architect Lukáš Svoboda, combines a steel structure with larch cladding and symbolizes natural elements such as wind and rain. The viewing platform at a height of 17.34 metres is reached by 96 steps.
