The tower was officially opened to the public on August 3, 1899, after a construction period of only four months.
It was named in honor of the German Emperor Franz Joseph I during the 50th anniversary of his reign.
The structure survived significant regional neglect during the post-WWII era before undergoing major structural renovations in the 1990s.
The masonry consists primarily of Devonian quartzites extracted from the local hillside.
The tower remains one of the few historical stone lookout towers in the region that has preserved its original architectural character.
Zlatý Chlum is a 26-meter-tall stone observation tower situated on a summit of the same name in the Hrubý Jeseník mountain range at an elevation of 891 meters. Constructed in 1899, it was one of the first lookout towers built by the Moravian-Silesian Sudeten Mountain Association. The tower is built of local quarry stone and features a square base tapering toward the top. Visitors ascend a spiral staircase to reach the open-air viewing gallery. From the top, the structure provides 360-degree panoramic views of the Jeseníky Mountains, the town of Jeseník, and the surrounding Rychlebské Mountains. A small wooden cabin serving as a refreshment kiosk is located directly at the base of the tower. The peak is accessible only via hiking trails through the surrounding forested terrain.
The viewing gallery at the top, specifically looking west toward the Praděd massif.
Wear sturdy hiking boots as the trails leading to the peak are rocky and uneven.
Carry sufficient water as there are no natural springs along the immediate final ascent.
Bring a windbreaker, as wind speeds at the exposed viewing platform are significantly higher than at the base.
Attempting to hike to the tower in winter conditions without appropriate snow spikes or trekking poles, as the trails become icy and dangerous.
The refreshment kiosk at the base typically closes during the winter season; the tower itself may be inaccessible during heavy snow or ice events.
