Arbour at the Three Crosses

Location: On Tříkřížový vrch (Three Crosses Hill) north-east of the centre of Karlovy Vary
Period of construction: Between 2000 and 2006
Architect: Ivan Štros
Official opening: 11 October 2006
Accessibility: Freely accessible

How to get there

Route 1: You may reach the lookout arbour by following the 1.9 km long route that leads from the Hot Spring in the spa centre along the yellow-marked tourist path. You will walk across Na Vyhlídce Street and continue through the spa woods all the way to Tři kříže (Three Crosses).

Route 2: If you decide for the second route, travel by Bus No. 10 or Bus No. 15 to the "Havlíčkova" stop in Drahovice. From there, follow the green tourist path to the crossroads below Tři kříže (Three Crosses) where you will continue up the yellow tourist path that will lead you all the way to the arbour.

History of the structure

In the 1640s, three large wooden crosses symbolising the crosses at the Golgotha were erected at the top of Tříkřížový vrch (Three Crosses Hill) in commemoration of the successful recatholization of the town and its surroundings. In the early 19^th century, first news of the magnificent view from the then deforested hill accessible by a comfortable path began spreading among the inhabitants and the spa guests of Karlovy Vary. The year 1912 saw the commencement of the construction of a funicular to a newly planned hotel on the hill. Unfortunately, all work was halted by World War I. The bed of the unfinished funicular along with the foundations of the upper station and torsos of older structures are visible in the surroundings even today.

A wooden lookout arbour was built on the concrete roof of a military observation post in front of the Three Crosses in 2000. It was destroyed by vandals only three years later. The new, more robust arbour was built according to the design of architect Ivan Štros in 2006.