Lookouts and observation towers

Aberg Lookout Tower

A restaurant for excursionists with a hotel and a lookout tower

Location: On Doubská hora (Doubská Mountain) above Doubí approximately 3.5 km southwest of the centre of Karlovy Vary
Elevation: 609 metres above sea level
Period of construction: Between 1904 and 1905
Official opening: 16 July 1905
Total height: 22 metres
Height of lookout platform: 18 metres
Number of stairs: 156
Accessibility: Not accessible

How to get there

Route 1:        You may reach the Aberg Lookout Tower by taking an approximately 4.5 kilometre long walk along Cesta Přátelství (Friendship Path), which leads up the blue-marked tourist path from Grandhotel Pupp in the centre of Karlovy via the Diana Observation Tower and through the charming spa woods. You may shorten your walk by taking the funicular to the Diana Observation Tower.

Route 2:        If you decide for the second route, travel by Bus No. 6 to the terminal stop in Doubí. From there, walk 3 kilometres up the blue-marked tourist path that leads by the former Saint Linhart Café up to the lookout tower. Parking for passenger vehicles may be found in the vicinity.

History of the structure

Doubská hora (Doubská Mountain) rising above the spa woods near the municipality of Doubí has been a popular outing destinationfor spa guests since the mid 19th century. A simple wooden tower with a lookout terrace had been built in 1848 but it was destroyed during a forest fire soon after. The Town Council of Karlovy Vary initiated the building of a more resilient, stone lookout tower on the site in 1862. Since the lookout tower was the only structure of its kind in the surroundings of Karlovy Vary, it became more and more popular. In 1878, a new restaurant and a café were opened for the spa guests in the vicinity of the tower. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the lookout tower was in such a poor technical condition that it had to be closed down and demolished in 1904.

The modern complex consisting of a restaurant, a dance hall, and a lookout tower has been built in the course of years 1904 and 1905 by a firm of local builder Josef Waldert according to the design of architect Rudolf Melichar. The grand opening of the new dominant on Doubská Mountain took place on 16 July 1905.

Between the years 1995 and 1997, the complex was reconstructed by its new private owner and converted into the present-day 4-star Aberg Hotel.

The hotel is currently closed and the lookout tower is not accessible to the public.

Gallery

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