Špičák

Špičák is a wooded hill rising to 544 metres above sea level just a couple of kilometres from the centre of Varnsdorf, close to the German border. It's one of those unassuming Lusatian hills that don't look like much from a distance but reward anyone willing to climb to the top.

What makes Špičák worth a visit?

The hill is a phonolite cone that pushed its way up through an older layer of basalt bedrock — a small geological curiosity typical of the wider Bohemian-Lusatian region, where volcanic knolls pop up abruptly out of otherwise flat land. The rocky outcrop at the summit has long drawn visitors for the view alone.

The building history on top of the hill has been eventful. Before the end of the 19th century, a simple wooden viewing platform already stood here. In 1898, an enterprising innkeeper named Franz Kühnel, with permission from Prince Liechtenstein, opened a restaurant on the summit complete with a large summer veranda and a 14-metre observation tower. The building burned down on the night of 4–5 July 1915, leaving the hilltop empty for years. It wasn't until 1930 that a small cottage with a summer bar appeared, gradually expanding until 1933, when new owner Josef Grünwald added a glazed, tower-like structure combining a pub and an observation deck. Remnants of that old building still stand on the summit today, and the town of Varnsdorf has been weighing plans for a brand-new lookout tower on the same spot.

How do you get to Špičák?

The summit sits roughly 2–3 km north/northeast of central Varnsdorf, so it's an easy walk or short bike ride rather than a serious hike. Trails up are well marked and popular with locals, making it a comfortable half-day outing that needs no special preparation.

What will you see at the top?

The payoff for the climb is the view. From the rocky outcrop you look straight down on Varnsdorf itself, and beyond it to the ridge of the Lusatian Mountains — Luž, Pěnkavčí vrch and Jedlová are all visible, and on a clear day the more distant Studnice and the rise of Růžovský vrch behind it. On the other side stretches the gently rolling countryside of the Šluknov region, characteristic of this corner of the Czech-German border.

When's the best time to visit?

Autumn and spring tend to give the clearest views, with crisper air and less foliage blocking the panorama. In summer, the hill is a popular evening stroll destination for people from town, while autumn and winter suit those after quiet views without the crowds.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Špičák? The summit reaches 544 metres above sea level.

Is there a lookout tower on top? Not currently — the earlier structures from 1898 and the 1930s have been destroyed or dismantled over time, and only remnants of the old buildings remain. The town of Varnsdorf has been considering building a new tower on the site.

How far is Špičák from Varnsdorf? About 2–3 km from the town centre — a walk of well under an hour.

What can you see from the summit? A panorama over Varnsdorf, the ridge of the Lusatian Mountains (Luž, Pěnkavčí vrch, Jedlová), and the rolling landscape of the Šluknov region.