Žernov, Observation tower in Žernov, Czech Republic

The Žernov observation tower stands by the football pitch in the western part of Žernov at 375 metres above sea level. It is mostly wooden, with a steel spiral staircase and four main timber posts on a reinforced concrete base. Its five floors each serve as a viewing platform, the highest at 18 metres above ground.

The tower opened in 2014 as part of a regional initiative to create new viewpoints across the area. The project brought together communities working to develop outdoor access and tourism infrastructure.

The tower was designed by engineer Antonín Olšina of Vysoké Mýto and built in 2014 by the firm Tesmen from Olešnice u Červeného Kostelce. Its opening on 30 November 2014 included a cultural programme and a blessing by a priest. From the top platform, 18 metres up, visitors can pick out the Krkonoše, the Orlické hory and the Rozkoš reservoir.

The tower stands by the football pitch in the western part of Žernov, on the road from Červený Kostelec to Česká Skalice. The easiest approach is from Červený Kostelec: turn right before Žernov toward Rýzmburk, then left after a few hundred metres and follow the field road to the pitch, where you can park.

The tower was built as part of the cross-border project "Places Full of Views of the Euroregion Glacensis", which covered 8 towers: 5 in the Czech Republic and 3 in Poland, at a total cost of over 43 million CZK. The Žernov tower itself cost 2.6 million CZK, of which the municipality paid 250,000 CZK.