About this place
Romanka Lookout Tower stands right next to the village of Hrubý Jeseník near Nymburk, in the heart of the flat Polabí lowlands of central Bohemia. At first glance it looks unassuming, but it is one of the more distinctive observation towers in the region — not because it is exceptionally tall, but because of where it sits and how far its view actually reaches over otherwise flat terrain.
Where exactly is the tower located?
The tower sits at an elevation of only 204 meters above sea level, making it one of the lowest-situated observation towers anywhere in Europe. To compensate, its structure itself rises 50 meters into the air, lifting its viewing platforms well above the surrounding lowland landscape and allowing views that go far beyond what the flat local geography would normally allow.
What does the tower look like?
The core of Romanka is a reinforced concrete column, left exposed in its lower half, while the upper half is wrapped in a metal frame finished with wood cladding. This mix — raw concrete transitioning into a lighter, timber-clad upper section — gives Romanka a distinctly different look from the typical wooden or steel-lattice towers found in the Czech mountains. The design was recognized in 2003 with a Grand Prix award in the landscape architecture category.
What can you see from the top?
The tower has five separate viewing platforms, with the highest one positioned 26 meters above ground. From there, the panorama stretches toward the Krkonoše (Giant) Mountains, the Kozákov and Ještěd ridges, and the nearby town of Nymburk. On especially clear days, visitors can even spot the television tower in Prague's Žižkov district — a sightline covering tens of kilometers, which is a notable feat for a tower built on essentially flat ground.
Where does the name Romanka come from?
The name carries a personal story. Romanka was a disabled girl who used to visit Hrubý Jeseník regularly to see her grandfather. During construction, which began in 2002, she was present at the building site almost from the very start, and the workers building the tower grew so fond of her that they suggested naming the new lookout after her. The tower officially opened to the public on March 28, 2003.
How do you get there?
The lookout tower stands directly beside the village of Hrubý Jeseník, in the Nymburk district of central Bohemia. It makes for an easy short trip from the Prague area — the drive typically takes under an hour — and works well as a day-trip destination combined with a visit to the town of Nymburk itself.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is the Romanka lookout tower? The structure is 50 meters tall, and the highest of its five viewing platforms sits at 26 meters above ground.
Why is the tower called Romanka? It is named after a disabled girl who visited the construction site regularly; the workers who built the tower grew attached to her and proposed naming it in her honor.
What can you see from the viewing platforms? On clear days, visitors can see the Krkonoše Mountains, Kozákov, Ještěd, the town of Nymburk, and even the television tower in Prague's Žižkov district.
When is the best time to visit? Clear, cloudless days offer the best visibility, extending the view to landmarks tens of kilometers away.
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