The tower stands on the site of a medieval pilgrimage church dedicated to St. Wolfgang, which was demolished in the late 18th century.
The name 'Bolfánek' is a traditional Czech folk derivative of the saint's name, Wolfgang.
It was converted into a dedicated lookout tower in the 19th century, making it one of the oldest lookout structures in the region.
The hill Žďár, where the tower is located, was once a site of Celtic fortification.
The tower features a distinct architectural transition between the original baroque stone base and the added viewing levels.
Lookout Bolfánek stands as a reconstructed stone tower that originally served as the bell tower for the now-demolished Church of St. Wolfgang. Located near the town of Chudenice, the tower features a circular plan with an accessible viewing gallery offering views of the Šumava mountains and the Bohemian Forest. It is situated on the Žďár hill at an elevation of 583 meters above sea level. The current structure incorporates historical masonry from the 17th century combined with modern structural reinforcements. Visitors ascend a metal staircase to reach the open-air observation platform.
The viewing gallery looking south toward the panorama of the Šumava mountains.
Bring binoculars to identify distant peaks in the Šumava range.
Check local weather forecasts as the open gallery is fully exposed to wind.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent American Garden (Americká zahrada) arboretum.
Attempting to climb during severe thunderstorms or high-wind warnings due to the exposed metal staircase.
Open seasonally from spring through autumn; typically closed during winter months.
