Oslednice

Oslednice is a steel lookout tower standing on the hill of the same name, on the southeastern edge of Telč – a UNESCO-listed Czech town famous for its Renaissance chateau and square lined with colorful houses.

Where is the tower and how tall is it?

The Oslednice hill rises to 557 meters above sea level, right above Telč's train and bus station. The current structure is a 36-meter steel tower reached by 176 steps, with the observation deck sitting 31 meters above ground. It ranks among the taller lookout towers in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands region.

Why does the hill have such an unusual name?

The name Oslednice is a corrupted form of the Czech word "poslednice," meaning the condemned's final journey. Back when the region still carried out capital punishment, a gallows stood on this hill, and condemned prisoners walked here from the town center on their last walk. Today the contrast could hardly be sharper: instead of executions, the hill now draws visitors chasing a view over Telč.

What's the history behind the tower itself?

The first tower here was a wooden structure built in 1898 on the initiative of Alois Kulhánek, a professor at the local grammar school who wanted to give residents and visitors a place to admire the surrounding countryside. That original tower stood 16 to 18 meters tall. Over time the wood deteriorated until the tower could no longer be used safely. The current metal structure opened on March 25, 2000 – exactly 102 years after the original was built.

What can you see from the observation deck?

From the top, the view stretches over Telč's historic center and the surrounding landscape of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Javořice, the highest peak in the region, is visible from here, along with Roštejn Castle, one of the area's more popular attractions. On exceptionally clear days, visitors can even make out the outline of the Alps in the distance, making autumn and winter – when the air tends to be clearest – particularly rewarding times to visit.

How do you get to the tower?

Oslednice sits about 1 kilometer from Telč's train and bus station, connected by a yellow-marked hiking trail. From the town's main square, the walk is roughly 2 kilometers, also along a yellow trail, following an easy, gentle route that families with children can manage without difficulty. Thanks to its proximity to the station, the tower pairs easily with a visit to Telč itself in a single afternoon.

Frequently asked questions

How many steps does it take to reach the top of the tower? There are 176 steps to the observation deck, which sits 31 meters above the ground.

How tall is the current tower and when was it built? The metal structure is 36 meters tall and opened on March 25, 2000, replacing the original wooden tower from 1898.

Where does the name Oslednice come from? It derives from the word "poslednice," referring to the condemned's last journey to a gallows that once stood on this hill.

How far is the tower from central Telč? It's about 2 km from the main square and roughly 1 km from the train/bus station, both routes following the yellow-marked hiking trail.