Vestec

Vestec is the highest summit of the Iron Mountains (Železné hory), rising to 668 metres above sea level near the villages of Horní Vestec and Dolní Vestec, part of the municipality of Slavíkov in the Havlíčkův Brod district, Vysočina Region, Czech Republic. It's a gentle, unhurried destination rather than a dramatic mountain climb — but the view from its broad top is well worth the walk.

How tall is Vestec and where exactly is it?

The summit reaches 668 metres, and its precise trigonometric marker, known as "Na Babyloně," is a granite geodetic post giving an elevation of 668.01 metres above sea level. It sits on farmland within the cadastral area of Horní Vestec, a hamlet belonging to Slavíkov. Vestec is the single highest point in the entire Iron Mountains range, making it a natural landmark for the whole stretch of countryside between Chotěboř and Havlíčkův Brod.

What can you see from the top?

Vestec's defining feature is its flat, wide summit plateau rather than a sharp rocky peak — the land simply levels out at its highest point. Despite the gentle shape, the views are genuinely expansive, especially to the south and west, where the panorama opens onto the Doubrava river valley and the countryside around Chotěboř. Few other vantage points in the area offer such a broad sweep of the Vysočina landscape in a single glance.

What is the history behind the hill?

Vestec's past is more industrial than its quiet, pastoral setting suggests. For decades, reddish granite was quarried on the hill and used in road construction, and in the early 20th century clay was also extracted here for brickmaking. A more unusual chapter dates to the 1950s: prospecting for radioactive minerals took place on the summit until it was halted in 1956, leaving behind an old exploratory shaft that was later sealed and marked with a stone slab. Today a communications mast stands on the summit, still regularly used by local radio amateurs for shortwave transmissions.

Is Vestec worth visiting?

Vestec suits travellers who prefer quiet, open spaces to crowded viewpoints — it remains relatively unknown outside the Vysočina region. The gentle ascent makes it suitable both for a family outing and for a short detour on a longer route between Chotěboř and Havlíčkův Brod. The surrounding hamlets of Horní and Dolní Vestec retain a peaceful, rural character, which only sharpens the contrast between the hill's industrial past and its calm, present-day appearance.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Vestec? The summit reaches 668 metres above sea level, making it the highest point of the Iron Mountains (Železné hory).

Where exactly is Vestec located? Above the hamlets of Horní Vestec and Dolní Vestec, part of the municipality of Slavíkov, in the Havlíčkův Brod district, Vysočina Region.

What views does the summit offer? Wide views to the south and west, taking in the Doubrava river valley and the area around Chotěboř.

Is there anything to see on the summit besides the view? Yes — a trigonometric point called "Na Babyloně" with a granite geodetic marker, a communications mast used by radio amateurs, and the remains of a 1950s mineral-prospecting shaft.

Does Vestec have an industrial history? Yes — granite was quarried here for road building and clay for brick production, and in the 1950s the hill was the site of radioactive mineral prospecting that ended in 1956.