Na Vrších

Na Vrších is a wooden lookout tower standing on a hill 481 metres above sea level, about a kilometre north of the Bašta locality in the Břasy municipality, Rokycany district, Plzeň region. Built on the site of a former military radar station, it has served visitors as a viewpoint over the Berounka river landscape since 2013.

How do you get to Na Vrších?

The tower sits on a hiking route running through the hills around Bašta and Břasy, roughly 10 km from Rokycany. The easiest approach is by car to Břasy, followed by a walk or bike ride through the forest up to the hilltop — the path is marked and does not require special fitness. The same area is crossed by a nature trail called "Po stopách důlní činnosti na Břasku" (Following the Traces of Mining in the Břasy Area), which passes right by the neighboring Bašta natural monument.

What will you see there?

The tower has an unusual trapezoidal roof that narrows toward the top on its eastern side — a design by architect Petr Kesl considered unique among Czech lookout towers. The structure stands about 15.5 metres tall. Its uppermost level houses camera-monitoring equipment closed to the public, while the floor below opens onto a publicly accessible viewing platform.

From the platform, visitors get a circular panorama of the Radeč massif, the Berounka river area, and the Plzeň-region towers of Chlum, Krkavec and Sylván. On clear days the hills of Radyně and Vladař also come into view, along with the distant outlines of the Český les and Šumava mountains. At the foot of the hill lies the Bašta natural monument — a former open-pit exposure of the Kliment coal mine, where visible seams of Carboniferous coal testify to the region's mining past.

When should you visit?

The tower is open to visitors during the regular tourist season, from April to October, and access to the viewing platform is free of charge. Outside this period the upper floors are closed, though the hill itself and the surrounding trails remain accessible year-round. Visibility is usually best in spring and autumn, when clearer air lets the view stretch as far as Šumava.

What's the history behind it?

The tower was ceremonially opened on 3 July 2013, with the then-mayor of Břasy, Jan Špilar, joined by representatives of neighboring municipalities and the Society of Friends of Lookout Towers. Its position on a former radar site is no coincidence — the hill has long served an observation role thanks to its dominant position and open sightlines in multiple directions.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the lookout tower? No, access to the viewing platform is free throughout the tourist season.

During which months and hours can you visit? The tower is open from April to October, during standard tourist-season daytime hours.

What can you see from the viewing platform? A panorama of the Radeč massif, the Berounka river valley, the Plzeň-region towers of Chlum, Krkavec and Sylván, and on clear days also Radyně, Vladař, and the distant ranges of the Český les and Šumava.

Is there anything else worth combining with the visit? Yes — at the foot of the hill lies the Bašta natural monument, a former coal exposure that forms part of a nearby educational trail dedicated to the region's mining history around Břasy.