Bílov (viewing tower)

Bílov Lookout Tower stands on Kanihůra hill (345 m above sea level), east of the village of Bílov in the Nový Jičín district, Moravian-Silesian Region. The tower sits within the Oderské vrchy nature park and ranks among the more popular viewpoints in this part of Moravia.

How do you get there?

Bílov lies a dozen or so kilometres south of Ostrava and just a few kilometres from Bílovec, both connected to the tower by marked hiking and cycling trails. Kanihůra hill is best reached on foot or by bike; drivers usually park at the edge of the forest and finish the approach with a short walk. The tower is a popular day-trip destination for residents of Ostrava and Nový Jičín.

What will you see?

The structure combines a telecommunications mast with a public viewing platform. Built from concrete and steel, the tower reaches a total height of 62.5 metres, with the observation deck positioned at 25.25 metres. Visitors climb an open-air staircase that spirals around the tower's shaft — 137 steps in total. From the platform, the panorama takes in Studénka, Ostrava, Bílovec, Fulnek, Nový Jičín, Štramberk, Kopřivnice and Hukvaldy, and on clear days it extends to the Beskydy, Javorníky and Nízký Jeseník ranges. Few points in the region offer a view that combines industrial Ostrava with the rolling landscape of the Oderské vrchy hills.

History of the tower

The idea of building a lookout tower on Kanihůra dates back to 2003. The project was financed by T-Mobile Czech Republic, which needed a transmitter mast at the site — pairing it with a public viewing deck turned out to be a natural solution. Construction began in July 2005 and was completed that November. The tower was officially opened to visitors on 20 May 2006.

When should you visit?

The observation deck is open to the public during the summer season. Outside that period, the tower operates primarily as an active telecommunications transmitter, and access to the platform may be restricted. Because the tower stands in open terrain, visibility conditions matter a great deal — a clear day makes the difference between a good view and a spectacular one across the distant mountain ranges.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is the Bílov lookout tower? The whole structure measures 62.5 metres, with the viewing platform set at a height of 25.25 metres.

How many steps lead to the top? An open-air staircase of 137 steps spirals around the tower's shaft up to the observation deck.

What can you see from the tower? A panorama covering Studénka, Ostrava, Bílovec, Fulnek, Nový Jičín, Štramberk, Kopřivnice and Hukvaldy, with the Beskydy, Javorníky and Nízký Jeseník ranges visible on clear days.

When is the tower open to visitors? The viewing platform operates during the summer season; outside that time the site functions mainly as an active transmitter tower.