Maják and Štěpánka – a scenic pair of lookout towers

You can find two lovely lookout towers near Harrachov!

Situated on the border of the Jizera Mountains and the Giant Mountains, the mountain village of Příchovice (a part of Kořenov) can boast, starting from this year, of two unique objects – it has in its territory two different, but picturesque lookout towers.

The first one is a neogothic gazebo Štěpánka standing on the top of the Hvězda (the Star) hill (959 m above the sea level), being the oldest lookout tower in the Jizera Mountains. The construction started as soon as in 1847, but it was not completed before 1892. It offers a beautiful overlook of the western Giant Mountains (as well as a part of Harrachov) and the Jizera Mountains.

The second local lookout tower was built this year (in 2013) a little bit lower under the Příchovice church near the u Čápa ski area. This one, on the contrary, is made of wood and it is the memory of the greatest mystic Bohemian – Jára Cimrman, who is closely connected with this region (allegedly the archetype of mythological Liptákov), and it has a shape of a Lighthouse (Maják). This is also the reason why a lovely museum of Cimrman´s period with numerous attractive displays form a part of the new lookout tower. This gazebo offers wonderful overlooks of the region on the border of the Giant and the Jizera Mountains.

From Příchovice to Harrachov it is nearly 10 kilometres by the road. The fastest way to get here is by a motor vehicle, of course, but you can also ride a bicycle or walk the marked routes. It is an ideal hint for a family trip.

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