Rozhledna Závist

Rozhledna Závist is a wooden lookout tower crowning the forested Hradiště hill above the Vltava river, in the cadastral area of Lhota in the Prague-West district, roughly 15 km south of central Prague. It stands right on the site of the former Celtic oppidum of Závist — the largest fortified settlement of its kind in central Bohemia.

How tall is the tower and how do you get to the top?

The tower reaches 28 metres in height (32.6 m including the weathervane) and is built from three larch timber columns wrapped around a spiral staircase. The viewing platform sits at 24 metres, reached by climbing 129 steps. Its triangular cross-section gives the structure a slender profile despite being built entirely from wood.

When was the tower built?

Construction began in September 2021 and was finished the same year, in December. The tower has been open to visitors since 22 December 2021, making it one of the newest lookout towers in the Prague area.

What can you see from the platform?

From 24 metres up, the platform offers a panorama over the Vltava valley and the surrounding hills of central Bohemia. The view takes in the forested slopes around Hradiště hill as well as the wider countryside south of Prague. The hill itself is wooded, so the approach to the tower runs through forest covering the site of the old hillfort.

What is hidden beneath the tower — the Závist hillfort?

Hradiště hill, also known as Závist after a nearby settlement on the Vltava bank, was first inhabited as early as the Middle Bronze Age. Settlement peaked during the Hallstatt and early La Tène periods (550–400 BC), when the first Celts settled here and built the oppidum of Závist — a fortified hillfort considered the largest Celtic settlement of its kind in central Bohemia. Its strategic position on a high, hard-to-reach hill above the river made it a natural stronghold controlling the surrounding area. The lookout tower now stands almost at the heart of the former oppidum, so a visit combines a scenic viewpoint with a stop at an archaeological site of major historical significance.

Who is this place for?

Rozhledna Závist appeals both to visitors chasing a view and to anyone interested in archaeology and the earliest settlement history of Bohemia. Its location close to Prague, yet away from the city bustle, makes it a solid target for a day hike or bike trip from the capital.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is Rozhledna Závist? The tower is 28 metres tall (32.6 m including the weathervane), with the viewing platform at 24 metres, reached via 129 steps.

When was the tower built? It was built between September and December 2021 and opened to the public on 22 December 2021.

What is near the tower? The tower stands on the site of the former Celtic oppidum of Závist — the largest hillfort of its kind in central Bohemia, settled as early as the Bronze Age and intensively used during the Hallstatt and early La Tène periods.

Where exactly is the tower located? On Hradiště hill above the Vltava river, in the cadastral area of Lhota in the Prague-West district, about 15 km south of central Prague.