home page » about Karlovy Vary » monuments and significant sights » Outlook Towers and Belvederes

Outlook Towers and Belvederes

Outlook tower Diana (547m a.s.l.)

The outlook tower from the year 1914 stands on Friendship Height (Výšina přátelství) above Grand Hotel Pupp. It can be reached on foot, following forest paths, or by a cable car. One cable car trip is about 3 minutes long.

Month	Operating hours
February, March	9:15 - 16:45
April, May	9:15 - 17:45
June to September	9:15 - 18:45
October	9:15 - 17:45
November, December	9:15 - 16:45

The gallery of the tower situated 25 m above ground can be reached by a lift or by stretching your legs on 150 steps. You can explore how far your eye can see daily, except January. Weather permitting, a view of up to 70 km opens before you.

The surroundings of the outlook tower are intertwined with several forest paths, for instance the Friendship Trail (Cesta přátelství), Marx’s Path (Marxova pěšina), Rusel Trail (Ruselova cesta), Fibich path (Fibichova stezka), and many others. Go for a hike in the forest; a path can take you, for instance to a place called Deer Jump located a little more than 1 km from the tower; or to Charles IV belvedere found on the opposite side.

Goethe’s Belvedere (638 m a.s.l.)

This is another structure whose design is signed by the architects Fellner and Helmer (1889). A view of the surrounding grounds can be enjoyed by those who climb 165 steps taking them 34 m high.

The outlook tower can be accessed by public transport bus No. 8 when you have to get off at the stop Hůrky (the bus leaves in about hourly intervals) and then continue on foot. You can also tide your bike or drive your car on Gogol’s path. The outlook tower has the opening hours from 11:00 until 20:00 in summer, in winter, the tower is closed 3 - 4 earlier.

If you want to continue hiking, stay on Gogol’s path. After completing about 2 km you will reach Three Crosses. On your way there, you will pass - which is usually the case in the forests around Karlovy Vary - several alcoves and half-pace places.

Charles IV Belvedere (514 m a.s.l.)

The wonderful pseudo-gothic tower was built in 1877. The only thing you have to do before looking around is to conquer 79 steps. Access to the tower is unlimited.

The outlook tower can be reached by a cable car from GH Pupp. Get off at the Deer Jump station (or you can walk there from the Diana outlook tower) and set out, following the yellow-marked path leading your way to the Post Office Manor House.

You will see several direction indicators and maps, alcoves and half-pace areas.

Doubská mountain (609 m a.s.l.) + St. Linhart

This outlook tower was built in 1905. After some time of dilapidation (which is an unfortunate ill-practice habit here in Bohemia) it was sold in 1995. The new owner reconstructed the building and establishment hotel Aberg in it. The outlook gallery is part of a hotel suite, and can be accessed (a fee of 40 CZK) provided that the suit is not occupied.

The outlook tower is best accessible by car coming from the road in the direction of Plzeň and Březova. After driving about 400 m behind a viaduct leave the main road and continue towards a holidayer restaurant Svatý Linhart. Leave your car there and walk the remaining 1200 meters following Tuhnicka path.

You can also go by train (getting off at the train station in Karlovy Vary - Březová) from where you hike on Sova’s path towards St. Linhart and then continue on Tuhnicka path.

Another possibility is to take public transport bus bus No. 6 and go to the stop Svatošská from where you will return some 130 m, turn right to the street K Linhartu until reaching its end where you will pick up Doubska path from which you will turn to Tuhnicka path. From the Svatý Linhart Restaurant you will follow the same path as described above.

Deer Jump

If you are interested in seeing the city from a different perspective, this is the right place for you. The statue of a chamois standing on a rock, his eyes set on the city, belongs to Karlovy Vary as much as mineral water, spa wafers and the Becher liqueur.

This place can be reached by cable car leaving from GH Pupp. Get off at the Deer Jump station or you can ride uphill to the Diana outlook tower and walk back some 500 m. You will pas a sanatorium called Myslivna (Gamekeeper’s Lodge), followed by a restaurant named U Myslivny (Gamekeeper’s Lodge) and finally by restaurant called Jelení skok (Deer Jump). From there you can walk downhill on a serpentine path to the statue of a chamois and farther below the Deer Jump belvedere. Do not be confused about the identical name of the three places. You will know you have reached the right one when you can see a chamois. From its statues you can keep on walking down the steps and then take a path that sways to the right back to GH Pupp. The path is provided with tourist marks, direction indicators and orientation maps.

Three Crosses

The crosses were erected here to symbolize the accomplished re-catholicization of the town and its environs (following the year 1620). However, a legend tells us that the crosses stand for the death of three brothers who died by violent death.

Take public transport bus No. 2, 8, 11 or 13 and go to the stop Panorama. Walk another 100 meters until reaching U Tří křížů Street and keep on walking to the Panorama gazebo and then to Turgeněv path. At the first road-fork behind the gazebo turn left, walk to a crossroad with Gogol path (about 400 meter’s walk) and turn right. After passing the Three Crosses lodge (U Tří křížů) you will be heading for the Three Crosses (Three Crosses). A return hike is a little more than 2 km long. If you decide to stay on Gogol path and keep on hiking, you will get to Goethe’s Belvedere.