Bučina Lookout Tower near Kyselka

Bučina Lookout Tower stands on a wooded hill above Kyselka, a place closely linked with spa history and Mattoni mineral water. Heinrich Mattoni, then owner of the Kyselka spa, had the stone tower built around 1880 so spa guests would have a pleasant walking destination above the Ohře River valley. Bučina is therefore one of the older lookout towers in the region and fits naturally into the story of a former spa landscape where rest, views and landscaped paths were part of a stay.

The tower is intimate, stone-built and feels more like a romantic forest lookout than a major tourist landmark. After the Second World War it was briefly used as a military observation post and later fell into disrepair. The municipality and local initiatives gradually restored it, with important repairs in 2002-2003 and another renovation in 2016. Today it is accessible again and serves as a quiet walking destination from Kyselka.

View and Route

The usual approach is from Kyselka on marked hiking trails, often combined with Ottův pramen and other places connected with the Mattoni spa. The climb is not long, but it leads uphill through forest, so sturdy shoes are useful. The viewing gallery is reached by 62 steps and sits about 10 metres above the ground. Trees partly limit the panorama, but views still open towards the Ohře River valley, Kyselka, Radošov, the Ore Mountains and the Doupov Mountains.

Bučina works best as part of a shorter half-day trip around Kyselka. To extend the walk, continue to the spa buildings, Mattoni Villa, Ottův pramen or the covered bridge at Radošov. This is not a quick tick-off attraction, but a quiet historical point in the landscape where you can sense how strongly the village was once connected with spa life.

Practical Information

The lookout tower is freely accessible and has no admission fee. Check the current condition with the municipality of Kyselka before setting out, especially after winter or severe weather. The route to the tower is not barrier-free, and access to the viewing gallery is by stairs. Around the tower there is simple seating and a forest setting, but no full visitor facilities.

Contacts and How to Get There

• Web: obeckyselka.cz
• Address: Kyselka, 362 72 Kyselka
• GPS: 50.25597, 13.00441
• Municipality phone: +420 353 941 127
• Recommended access: on foot from Kyselka along a marked route through the spa part of the village