Skalky

Skalky is the highest peak of the Drahanská vrchovina (Drahany Highlands), rising to 735 m above sea level in the municipality of Buková, Prostějov district, in the Moravia region of Czechia. Despite holding the title of the highest point in the entire range, the summit is nothing like a classic scenic peak — it's a flat, fully forested rise, best known for the meteorological radar tower that crowns it.

Why is the region's highest point invisible from a distance?

The Drahany Highlands are a broad, gently rolling upland blanketed mostly in beech and oak forest, with no dramatic rocky summits breaking the treeline. Skalky, despite being the tallest point of the whole highland, has a rounded, densely wooded top — the trees block any wider view. Visitors expecting a lookout at the end of a hike may be disappointed: the appeal here lies less in scenery and more in the fact of standing on the region's actual high point, plus the unusual structure sitting on top of it.

What is that tower on the summit?

Since 1995, Skalky has hosted a weather radar station, part of the Czech national radar network. The structure is a reinforced-concrete shaft rising from a mushroom-shaped base, topped by a platform at roughly 35 metres, which carries the radar dome and antenna. The station tracks precipitation and storm activity within a radius of up to 250 km, refreshing its readings roughly every 10 minutes, feeding data into the national weather forecasting and warning system that covers Moravia and Silesia. The installation itself is not open to visitors — it's an active meteorological facility, not a public lookout tower — though its silhouette is visible from surrounding roads and trails long before you reach the top.

How do you get to Skalky?

Marked hiking trails, including yellow- and blue-marked routes, lead to the summit and connect it with nearby villages — Buková, Protivanov, and Benešov u Boskovic. Because the terrain is forested and the summit offers no views, Skalky usually works best as one stop on a longer route through the Drahany Highlands rather than a standalone destination. The springs of the Punkva river lie within a few kilometres, making it easy to combine a climb to the region's high point with a visit to the river's source area. In winter, local municipalities groom cross-country ski trails nearby, taking advantage of the gentle elevation changes and forest-sheltered terrain.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons, when the beech and oak woods are milder in temperature and the trails aren't baking under summer sun. In summer, the thick canopy further limits the already modest views but does provide welcome shade along the whole route. In winter, given good snow conditions, the area turns into a spot for cross-country skiing.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see the surrounding landscape from the top of Skalky? No — the summit is completely forested and flat, so despite being the highest point of the Drahany Highlands, it offers no panoramic view.

Can you climb the radar tower? No, it's an active meteorological installation and is not open to visitors.

How long does it take to reach the summit? It depends on the route and starting point — Skalky sits on trails linking Buková, Protivanov, and Benešov u Boskovic, so hiking times range from under an hour to several hours depending on where you start.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The springs of the Punkva river are close by, along with the extensive forests of the Drahany Highlands, which are good for longer hikes and, in winter, cross-country skiing.