Kohout (589 m a.s.l.) is a forested peak in the Bohemian Uplands (České středohoří) that hides a real treat — a stone lookout tower from 1908 tucked into the trees near the summit. It's a spot for hikers who enjoy quiet trails, a bit of history, and views without the crowds.

The mountain has the classic shape of a basalt cone: a flat top surrounded by boulder-strewn slopes. Dense forest cloaks the whole hill throughout the year, offering cool shade in summer and colorful foliage in autumn. In winter, when the trees are bare, the panorama from around the tower opens up more generously across the Bukovohorské středohoří area. The overall feel is intimate rather than crowded — this is a peak for those who prefer peaceful forest walks over busy tourist hotspots.

• Benešov nad Ploučnicí — blue-marked trail with a short detour to the summit, approx. 1.5-2 hours, easy difficulty
• Valkeřice — also via the blue-marked trail with a side path to the top, easy difficulty

• Stone lookout tower built in 1908, originally named after Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, restored and reopened on 16 April 2011
• The tower stands about 150 m east of the actual summit
• The original construction was never fully finished — a temporary metal structure sat atop the stone base and eventually deteriorated over time before the restoration

Interesting to note: the original metal top of the tower crumbled away long before the modern renovation gave it a sturdy new form — today's structure is a living link to more than a century of local tourism history.