The Růženka Outlook in the Czech Switzerland is the Lookout of the Year 2018

Růžová (Děčínsko) – The atypical viewpoint Růženka in the Czech Switzerland has been awarded the title of Lookout Tower of the Year 2018. The second place was taken by another construction in the Ústecký region, namely on the Rubín hill near Podbořany. Today, the results of the competition were announced by Jaroslav Fábera, chairman of the Club of Friends of Lookout Towers. The third place went to Kopaninka near the village of Repechy in the Prostějov region of the Olomouc region.

The survey was announced by the club for the fifth time. Only lookout towers that were built in the voting year are included. Last year there were 11.

The viewpoint on Pastevní vrch near the village of Růžová in Czech Switzerland opened last April. It is particularly interesting due to its shape, reminiscent of the design of the national library in Prague by architect Jan Kaplický; however, the design of the viewpoint was conceived long before Kaplický's library and originated from the idea of young architects from Liberec.

Once, there were three lookout towers on the hill behind the village, which gradually burned down. The new structure is made of concrete. Many years have passed since the intention to build a viewpoint. "The award is certainly a great satisfaction for us. We are very pleased," said Helen Křížková, the mayor of the village, to ČTK. Since its opening, according to the mayor, the lookout tower has been crowded. "It's like an anthill there, even now in winter," she noted.

The viewpoint is 6.2 meters tall and offers views of the Pravčická Gate, Milešovka, Sněžník, Sokolí vrch, as well as the Saxon Lilienstein and Grosser Winterberg.

Last September, a wooden lookout tower was opened on the Rubín hill near Podbořany, located near a Slavic fortified settlement. The tower is 7.33 meters tall, allowing tourists to gaze at the Doupov Mountains, the Krušné Mountains, and the Czech Central Mountains.

Visitors can enjoy the view of the Drahanská Highlands and the surrounding area from the Kopaninka lookout tower, which rises to a height of 22 meters on the same-named hill near the village of Repechy in the Prostějov region.

In the Lookout Tower of the Year 2018 survey, 1109 people voted, Růženka received 334 votes and will receive a diploma, Rubín got 138 votes, and Kopaninka got 127. "The winning lookout tower will receive a diploma, and we selected ten participants from those who voted to receive beautiful prizes," said Fábera. "Lookout towers not only arise but also disappear from the landscape, so it is good to draw attention to them," added the club chairman.