Location: Rock bill near Jelení skok (Deer Jump) west above the centre of Karlovy Vary
Elevation: 472 metres above sea level
Period of construction: 1804
Official opening: 1804
Accessibility: Freely accessible

According to legend, a deer being hunted by Charles IV's entourage jumped from this rock cliff. The deer fell into a pool of hot water (today's Vřídlo), whose healing properties Charles IV himself tried out.

He then ordered that the area around the spring be settled, which it was, and thus, according to legend, the Karlovy Vary spa was founded. In 1851, the city councilors wanted to have a statue of a deer built here, but the rebellious Baron August von Lützow took the initiative and insisted that only a chamois could handle such terrain.

Therefore, instead of a deer, he had a statue of a chamois built here, which became an icon of Karlovy Vary.

How to get there

Route 1: You may reach the lookout if you start from the Hot Spring in the centre of Karlovy Vary and walk up the forest paths and the stone stairs leading along the Chamois statute.

Route 2: An easier alternative is to take the Diana funicular from Grandhotel Pupp to the Jelení skok (Deer Jump) intermediate station and follow the comfortable path that leads along the Myslivna (Gamekeeper's Lodge) Sanatorium to Peter's Height and the lookout arbour.

History of the structure

The wooden arbour on a rock bill near Jelení skok (Deer Jump) directly above the spa centre is probably the oldest lookout structure in Karlovy Vary. The arbour was built in 1804 upon the order of Mr. Mayer, a wealthy Viennese merchantand a Karlsbad native, according to whom the arbour is also known as Mayerův gloriet (Mayer's Gloriette).