Watch on Guard

The story of the Watchtower project began in 2014. We designed a series of small stops on the hill Stráž, which is part of the ridge that undulates above Rokytnice. Its western end descends to the wild waters of the Jizera River, while to the east it continues along the Sachr and Wolf ridges up to the legendary mountain Kotel. The hill Stráž, or Strážník as the locals call it, was one of the places where signals about the enemy crossing the borders of our country were sent using fire during the invasion of hostile troops. The smoke signal was then picked up by other guards on Kozákov and further into Bohemia. Today, Rokytnice nad Jizerou has new sentinels.
The concept of the project was born from the original intention of the municipality to build a classic lookout tower on the summit. The morphology of the hill proved unsuitable for the construction of a viewing tower, so we decided on a concept of several stops on the rocks that frame the summit of the hill. The viewpoints are located in different environments and offer diverse views of the surrounding landscape, trees, or blueberries. They bring visitors not only the perspective of distant mountain ridges but also the intimacy of the forest environment. The inspiration for the light structures made of wood and steel came from the figures in the coat of arms of the town of Rokytnice. Four patrons watch over the town from the rocks of Strážník, symbolizing the four villages that united in ancient times to form the town of Rokytnice – Fox, Bear, Sheep, and Miner – Watch on the Guard.

Fox
The Fox has settled on the first rock. Its long body stands on the stone, and its tail sticks out into the valley. It sees all of Rokytnice and the surrounding hills. With its keen eye, it watches as the last snow melts on Lysá hora, knowing about the first primroses on the slopes where the rays of the spring sun lean. The summer sun whitens its back, and the autumn rains darken the Fox's wooden fur. So please come in, dear ones, now you will be taken for a ride on the back of the Fox from Františkov!
There is a nice view of the Fox from a small bridge located nearby, along with seating that is perfect for an afternoon snack. There are more such stops along the way, so if the Fox is full, don't be sad; there will surely be room for you elsewhere.


Bear
The Bear has hidden in the forest just a short distance from the Fox. It stands on a piece of stone among the blueberries and looks into the treetops. It appears well-fed, and it is quite a hefty creature. "Climb on my back!" the Bear beckons, inviting you to a viewpoint that works, even when mist rolls over the mountains. If you are lucky, you might see a woodpecker in action, and if you wake up early, you might even see a herd of does wandering in the forests atop Stráž. The Bear is from Lower Rokytnice, but it seems that it likes it up here. It is peaceful here, and it enjoys people, so don't be afraid and listen to it. Climb on its back.


Sheep
The Sheep wandered to Stráž from the meadows of Upper Rokytnice. It guards the path to the Miner, who is the last stop on the route between the guards on Stráž. Crouched in the forest among the blueberry bushes, it offers its hump to the timid. Climb the ladder and pet its back; it will be pleased.

Miner
You can reach the Miner via the bridge. He stands on a high rock that the local climbers call "Ká pětka." His figure refers to the mining past of Rokytnice. As a symbol of Rokytno, he is the last of the four-member guard. The robust figure looks down into the valley of the Jizera. A steep staircase leads you to a viewpoint with a beautiful view. If you listen closely, you might even hear the gurgling waters of the river as it carves its way through the wild valley from the mountains at the border with Poland. Sit on the steps and watch the panorama of the hills above the river; it is beautiful here.