STUDENEC (736m) - LUSATION MOUNTAINS
Going from Česká Kamenice to the North we will soon enter the Lusation Mountains. We head for Studenec hill where the oldest observation tower in our region used to stand. Before the erection of the tower, the 736metres high hill was often used by land surveyors taking triangulation measurements. There even used to be a big stone with the engraved inspiration "Monumentum astronomico - geometricum".
In the last century Studenec belonged to the vast estate of the Kinsky princes who took good care of their property. In 1854, prince Ferdinand Kinsky initiated the construction of a wooden observation tower on the summit of Studenec. Since the times of Hantschel, this tower is said to be the second oldest observation tower (the first one was Klet') in Bohemia. This is not completely true becouse in that time a few similar constructions already existed in 1865 when it had to be demolished becouse of its bad technical condition.
On July 18, 1888, the second observation tower was opened at the top of Studenec. Its construction was initiated by the Mountain Club for Czech Switzerland which got the approval of the owner of the land and the financial support of saving banks in Děčín and Česká Kamenice. According to the general trend of that time, it was a metal construction made to order by Praľská strojírenská akciová společnost (The Prague Engineering Shareholding Company). The tower, with pedestrals, was 17 metres high and its observation platform could held 25 persons. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of many rambling and sports clubs of the region as well as several hundred other visitors. The attraction of the new reservation tower in the Lusation Mountains is proved by the fact that more than 5,000 people visited it before the end of that year. In 1893, prince Kinsky financed the construction of a tourist chalet which offered refreshment and accomodation to the tourists.
The tower served its purpose for more than a century. Nevertheless, the age and weather gradually rusted the metal structure. It is still standing but it is practically impossible to climp onto its platform. Many of the original 92 steps have rusted away and the platform itself is almost non-existent. The decaying tower offers a sad sight for the visitor considering that is one of the oldest metal observation towers in Bohemia.
Text:
Jan Nouza
