Jarník observation tower, Observation tower in Písek, Czech Republic

The Jarník observation tower is a 59.4-metre steel lattice structure on Jarník hill (606 m) about 2 km east of Písek, built in 1997 as both a lookout and a transmitter. Two separate staircases, one for ascent and one for descent, lead up 182 steps to the viewing platform at 34.6 m.

Efforts to build a lookout on the summit date to the late 18th century, but nothing was realised. From 1904 to 1918 a wooden fire-watch tower stood about 1 km from today's site, used by walkers for views. The present steel tower was built in 1997 by the mobile operator Eurotel, Rádio Prácheň and the town of Písek, and opened on 9 October 1997 at a cost of 17 million crowns.

The tower is named after Jarník hill, where a wooden fire-watch tower stood from 1904 to 1918 about a kilometre from today's site; walkers used it for views. The present steel tower, opened on 9 October 1997, was built jointly by the mobile operator Eurotel, the station Rádio Prácheň and the town of Písek, and it still carries radio and mobile signals for the Písek area.

The climb goes through the inside of the tower and ends at the open platform on top, where you can look in all directions. Visitors should know that the platform is exposed to the weather and good footwear is helpful.

The tower doubles as a transmitter: its steel structure carries the signal of Rádio Prácheň and base stations of O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone over the Písek region. The 59.4-metre structure was designed by Spojprojekt Praha and assembled by Excon Chomutov.