Horský hotel Klínovec Hotel building

Horský hotel Klínovec dominates the highest peak of the Krušné Mountains in the cadastral territory of Jáchymova in the Karlovy Vary Region. This monument has been built gradually since the end of the 19th century and combines the function of hostel with historical observation tower. It is an important testament to the development of regional tourism and the industrial flowering of Krušnomountain cities.

The first written mention of the peak of Klínovec comes from the book of Sarept by chronicler and priest Johann Mathesio. The first construction on the top was in 1817 a wooden pyramid, which he replaced after the fire in 1837 in 1838. This building was built by Jáchymov postmaster Florian Makasy and innkeeper Pavel Weigl. Guests from Karlovy Vary carried carriages to the top.

In 1880 the Krusno Mountain Association Jáchymov was founded under the leadership of Eduardo Wenische. The association first built a temporary wooden view tower and in 1884 opened a definitive stone building according to the project of the kadani builder Josef Peter. The Osmiboka tower Kaiser-Franz-Josephs-Turm was 24 metres tall and 77 stone steps led to its observation gallery. The original entrance fee was ten tailors.

The development of the hotel began in 1893 by building a small hospitality and apartment for the watchman, which was realized by Jáchymov builder Karel Schöter for 2100 gold. In 1897 a post office was opened at the top and in 1906 a telephone was installed. In 1900 the building was extended by the Dotzauer Hall, kitchen and nine guest rooms.

The key moment was the year 1908, when the Jubilee Exhibition of Crafts and Industrial Products of Krusnomountain Cities and Villages took place. For this event, a new hall was built with a cluster ceiling made of strained deer skin, to which the painter Gustav Zindel tied the characters of the participating cities. The exhibition was personally opened by Emperor František Josef I. and visited by over 40,000 people. At the end of the event the hall was renamed Jubilee Hall, later the Sobitschk Hall. In 1927 Müller Hall was added. The hotel acquired its present form after the fire in 1929 when it was rebuilt by Jáchymov builder Rehn.

The observation tower was due to climatic conditions and an emergency leak, with its upper half showing a deflection of 60 centimetres. The city of God's Gift, which is the current owner of the complex, has secured the construction of a faithful replica. The new construction consists of a reinforced concrete skeleton with granite blocks, with a stone staircase and a ledge preserved from the original building. An exhibition of its history is located in the landing ports of the observation tower.

From the observation platform you can see the entire zone of the Erzgebirge Mountains, the Czech Forest, Slavkovsky Forest, Doupovská Mountains, the Czech Central Mountains and the Podkrušnohřeho brown coal pan. With excellent visibility you can see Snow, Děčina Snežník, Lusatian Mountains, Říp, Jested, White Mountains, Petřín View, Žižkovský transmitter in Prague or the ridge of Šumava. In addition to the hotel and the lookout tower, there is a cable railway station, a mountain service cottage and 80 metres high television transmitter.

The object has become decrepit in the past. On 16 October 2023, the city of Bohemian Dar rented it to Windsor Spa Hotel, a subsidiary of the Sokolovská coal group, to ensure reconstruction and future operation. The project is co-financed by the Fair Transformation Regional Programme.

Horský hotel Klínovec represents a unique link between mountain architecture and the history of regional development. It is a place with a rich tradition offered by one of the best views in the Czech Republic. Visiting this peak makes it possible to understand the historical importance of the Ernest Mountains for the whole region.