Hotel Ještěd is one of the most striking buildings in Central Europe — a futuristic TV tower and hotel fused into a single rocket-shaped structure that crowns the summit of Mount Ještěd near Liberec. It is not just a viewpoint; it is a living piece of architectural history, awarded the prestigious Auguste Perret Prize and voted the most significant Czech building of the 20th century.

Standing at 1,012 metres above sea level, the summit offers sweeping views across the Jizera Mountains, the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains), and on clear days even the distant peak of Sněžka. In winter the tower often pierces through a sea of clouds, giving it an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Summer and autumn bring the clearest panoramas, though the winds — regularly reaching 80 km/h — remind you that this is a proper mountain top. Architect Karel Hubáček designed the hyperboloid structure intentionally to complement, not compete with, the natural silhouette of the hill.

• Horní Hanychov (Liberec district) — cable car (out of service since October 2021), red trail, approx. 1.5–2 hrs, moderate
• Tetřeví saddle car park — short walk or red trail directly to the summit, approx. 15–20 min, easy
• Liberec town centre — red and blue trail via 'Nad Výpřeží', approx. 2–2.5 hrs, moderate

• The hotel and restaurant are open year-round — the glazed viewing terrace on the 2nd floor is accessible even without an overnight stay
• Car park available at Tetřeví saddle, a short walk from the entrance
• Best photography: early morning or after sunset when the lights of Liberec glow in the valley below
• Wind can be very strong at the summit — bring an extra layer even in summer
• The building is a Czech National Cultural Monument and is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list

A remarkable historical footnote: between 25 and 27 August 1968, just days after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, the 'Free Studio North' broadcast from this very spot — with Václav Havel among those who spoke on air. A commemorative plaque marks the place where it all happened.