About this place
Veselská rozhledna is a wooden observation tower standing on Veselský kopec hill (557 m above sea level) right next to the village of Veselí u Oder, southwest of the town of Odry in the Nový Jičín district of the Moravian-Silesian Region. The tower itself sits at roughly 547 m above sea level, within the Vítkovská vrchovina uplands, and has become one of the most popular short-hike destinations in this part of the Czech Republic.
How do you get to Veselská rozhledna?
Most visitors start from the village of Veselí u Oder, from where a marked trail with only gentle elevation gain leads up to the summit — the walk typically takes somewhere between ten and twenty-five minutes. A parking area was built right next to the tower, so arriving by car and finishing with a short walk on foot is the most convenient option, especially for families with children. The tower can be visited free of charge, year-round, which makes it an easy spot to add to a spontaneous day trip.
What can you see from the tower?
The structure is roughly 13 to 14 meters tall, with the viewing platform positioned at a height of about 9.5 meters. Because the tower is covered, the platform can be used even in less favorable weather. From the top, the view opens onto the peaks of the Oderské vrchy (Oder Hills), the Beskydy mountains, the Hostýnské vrchy, and the Moravian Gate — the wide lowland corridor connecting Moravia and Silesia. That panorama is the main reason the tower draws both nature lovers and anyone looking for a scenic photo stop.
Why does it look the way it does?
The tower's shape is not accidental — it echoes the guard tower depicted in the coat of arms of the town of Odry. It was built from dark-stained oak timber reinforced with steel elements, giving it a modern, almost futuristic look despite the traditional wooden material. The concrete base and the roof are both finished with slate, a type of rock typical of the Oderské vrchy, tying the structure visually to the surrounding geology. A sister project built on the same heraldic motif is the Olšová observation tower near Pohoř.
When was it built?
Construction started in the summer of 2018 and was finished that same autumn. The tower officially opened to the public in the spring of 2019. The project was carried out on the initiative of the Euroregion Silesia as part of a cross-border trail of observation towers and viewpoints linking similar structures on both sides of the Czech-Polish border.
Anything else worth knowing?
Around the tower, benches shaped like oversized chess pieces — a bishop, a rook, a knight, and a pawn — were installed, making the spot appealing to children as well and adding a fun detail for photos. The area around Veselský kopec also makes a good starting point for further hikes through the Oderské vrchy.
Frequently asked questions
Is admission to Veselská rozhledna free? Yes, the tower is open to everyone free of charge, year-round.
How tall is the tower, and how high is the viewing platform? The whole structure is about 13 to 14 meters tall, with the viewing platform itself set at around 9.5 meters.
What views can you see from the platform? A panorama covering the Oderské vrchy, the Beskydy mountains, the Hostýnské vrchy, and the Moravian Gate.
Can you drive close to the tower? Yes, there is a parking area right next to it, followed by a short, easy walk up to the tower.
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