Look-out Tower at Smrk Mt. / Rozhledna na Smrku (Jizera Mts., Czech Republic)
N 50° 53.360 E 015° 16.311
33U E 519120 N 5637553
Quick Description: Modern look-out tower you can find at the summit of Smrk Mt. (1124 m), the highest mountain of the Czech part of the Jizera Mts. (Jizerské Hory).
Location: Liberecky kraj, Czech Republic
Date Posted: 9/28/2009 2:10:41 PM
Waymark Code: WM7AWZ
Views: 18
Long Description:
The first look-out tower on the
summit of Smrk Mt., the highest mountain of the Czech part of the
Jizera Mts., was built in 1892. The tower was built on order by
citizens of town Nové Mesto pod Smrkem. The implementation of the
project was left to Mr. Fritsch, a carpenter, who had to deal with
the fact that no tall and long enough trees were available on the
top of Mt. Smrk.
The tower, 25 m tall, was made of
wood. First, it was put together in the valley: after that, it was
taken to pieces and transported to the top of the mountain. The
whole action was completed in 7 weeks. Later, a chalet was added to
provide overnight accommodation. The tower was carefully maintained
and was operated for an unbelievable 50 years. It was heavily
damaged during the war and the torso of the tower collapsed at the
beginning of the fifties. The following period was not a good time
for development of look-out towers.
The effort to build a new tower made
by local people was not successful until the nineties: in mid
August 2003 the construction of a new, 20 m tall tower made of
steel commenced. The new unusually designed look-out tower, work of
architect Jan Duda, was opened for public use on September 21,
2003.