From the new lookout tower in V. Meziříčí, more than 200 people visited yesterday

Velké Meziříčí (Žďársko) - Around 200 people climbed to the top of the newly opened lookout tower on Fajtl Hill in Velké Meziříčí yesterday from 08:00 to 17:00. Jiří Pálka from the local Ski Club, which was the initiator of the tower's construction, told ČTK. The 36-meter high spiral-shaped lookout tower is open to the public for the first time today following its grand opening on Friday.
    "It's a novelty, there weren't crowds of tourists, but people trickled in in small groups, almost continuously. The attendance might have been slightly influenced by the morning rain," said Pálka. During the summer, the lookout tower will be open daily from 08:00 to 21:00. The entrance fee is 20 crowns.
    The grand opening on Friday was attended by people who participated in the public fundraising campaign. Individuals and companies contributed amounts ranging from 200 crowns to several thousand. Those who donated at least 2,000 crowns will have a plaque with their name on one of the steps of the lookout tower. All 160 steps already have their sponsors. Other companies have paid for advertising panels. "We still have free spaces on the observation deck where we can also place names (of donors)," said the club's chairman Jiří Novotný. A donation of 500 crowns comes with free entry to the lookout tower for ten years.
    The idea for the lookout tower was brought forward by the Ski Club a few years ago. They already operate a ski slope on Fajtl Hill and a bike park in the summer. The final design of the lookout was chosen by people voting online. The winning design was by architect Václav Hlaváček for a metal tower shaped like a DNA helix.
    The construction costs approached nine million crowns. European funding will cover 60 percent of the eligible expenses. The remaining funds will be paid by the club, which took out a loan for this purpose. The public fundraising campaign was announced with the start of construction and will last until autumn; so far it has collected over 300,000 crowns.
    According to internet data, there are currently 14 lookout towers in Vysočina. New lookout towers were opened last autumn at Orlík Castle near Humpolec and at Hell Hill near Třebíč.