On top of Mařenka a new lookout tower was opened today

Štěměchy (Třebíč region) - About five hundred people set out today to the newly opened lookout tower on Mařenka Hill in the Třebíč region. They were not deterred by the rainy and foggy weather, which practically made it impossible to see the surroundings from the approximately 30-meter-high tower, said the mayor of Štěměchy, Marie Báňová.
     "It's a pity. Just on Friday, the visibility was ideal, but during the night from Friday to Saturday, the weather changed and somewhat spoiled our festive moment," Báňová stated. From the observation tower, people can see, under ideal conditions, places like Pálava, Czech Canada, or the Novohradské Mountains. "If everything goes well, people might even glimpse the foothills of the Alps," the mayor said.
     The tower was originally scheduled to start operations on September 7, but due to delays in construction, the date was moved. "It's a huge pity because I clearly remember that September 7 was beautiful summer weather," Báňová recalled. However, the construction was completed only on October 18. Entry to the lookout tower, which is located at an altitude of 711 meters above sea level, is free.
     The construction of the structure, prepared by seven municipalities from the surrounding area, cost approximately seven million crowns. The project was supported by a grant from the European Union, but the overall costs were not covered by the grant. Therefore, the microregion announced a public collection for the lookout tower.
     Once, there was a lookout tower on Mařenka, but it fell during a storm. The new tower consists of a nine-meter base covered with stone, on which stands a metal staircase complemented by wooden elements. The project is managed by the Mařenka Foothills Microregion, which includes Rokytnice nad Rokytnou, Markvartice, Předín, Štěměchy, Čáslavice, Římov, and Chlístov.
     In the Vysočina region, tourists can now visit eight lookout towers. The oldest is the Babylon lookout tower near Kramolín in the Třebíč region. It was built in 1831 by the estate owner Jindřich Vilém Haugwitz. More lookout towers could still be added to the region. The most promising project now is for the construction of a lookout tower in Velké Meziříčí, for which the city hall applied for a European grant this year.