On the summit of Śnieżnik (1425 m), the highest peak of the Eastern Sudetes, once stood a stone observation tower dedicated to Emperor Wilhelm I – one of the most iconic landmarks of the Kłodzko region. Although the original tower was demolished in 1973, its site remains a fascinating stop for hikers combining history with mountain views.

The summit of Śnieżnik forms a broad, flattened dome, which historically limited the view without a tower – a fact noted by travelers as early as the 19th century. Today the summit area is a protected nature reserve, and walking to the former tower site offers both scenic and reflective moments among boulder fields and dwarf mountain pine. In summer, wide panoramas over the Sudetes and the Kłodzko Valley unfold, while in winter the peak is often wrapped in mist and frost, giving it a wild, austere character.

• Stronie Śląskie – yellow trail, approx. 3-4 hours, demanding but well-marked route
• Międzylesie or Bystrzyca Kłodzka – alternative approaches via red and blue trails, longer but less steep

• The tower was demolished by military engineers on 11 October 1973 – no remains of the original structure exist today
• A new observation tower, continuing the tradition of the original, opened in 2022
• Nearby stands the PTTK mountain hut 'Na Śnieżniku', where the recovered commemorative plaque can be seen
• An exact replica of the original tower stands in the Czech Republic on Větrov mountain (Dalimilova rozhledna), visible from the new Śnieżnik tower

Fun fact: in 1938, the area around the tower was used for secret meetings of German intelligence officers – a Czechoslovak agent overheard one such conversation, leading to the arrest of two spies.