Studenec, Observation tower on Studenec mountain, Czech Republic
Kaltenberg is an observation tower on Studenec mountain in the Czech Republic, built from metal and situated at an elevation of 736 meters. From this vantage point, visitors can see across the Lusatian Mountains and the Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland region.
A wooden tower was first built in 1845 under Count Kinsky, followed by an iron construction in 1888. The new structure was so popular that it attracted over 5,000 visitors in its first year.
The mountain takes its name from a cold spring on the northeastern slope, where the Kaltenbach River originates. This water source shaped settlement patterns and how people lived in the region across many generations.
The structure is accessible to visitors following a complete renovation in 2009, which was funded through grants and private donations. Bring sturdy shoes, as the path to the summit can be steep and rocky in places.
A memorial stone at the summit bears the inscription 'MONUMENTUM ASTRONOMICO-GEOMETRICUM', marking this site's role in the 1810 military triangulation survey of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. This stone commemorates a key survey point from an era when precise mapping of this border region held strategic importance.
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