Hladovka Lookout Tower

On the Grapa hill above the village of Hladovka stands an observation tower, which was put into use in December 2024. It has the shape of a cylinder with a diameter of five meters. It is built of concrete and lined with natural stone. The total height is 15.7 m. A brick spiral staircase leads to a viewing platform at a height of 10 m, which is covered by a wooden octagonal roof. The tower was built by the village with the support of EU funds. In August 2025, a chapel of the Holy Family was added to its lower part. A large wooden cross also stands nearby.

What will you see?

From the plateau you can see the whole of Hladovka and the surrounding villages, and in good weather even Roháče and the Western Tatras. Babia Hora rises to the north and the surface of the Orava Dam shimmers in the distance. The view covers a large part of Upper Orava and extends to the Polish side of the border.

How to get there

The tower can be reached on foot from Hladovka along unpaved field roads that lead southwest of the village. There is no tourist sign here, so check the route in a map application, for example on Mapy.cz. The second option is to come from Vitanová along the road through the area of the local cooperative. The climb is short, according to visitors it takes about half an hour to the top. Even children can do it.

Good to know

• Admission is free and the tower is accessible all year round.
• GPS: 49°21'19.4″ N, 19°45'10.1″ E
• The roads are dirt roads, and after rain and in winter they can be muddy or snowy. We recommend sturdy shoes.
• There are no benches or refreshments near the tower yet.
• The view of the Tatras is best in clear, dry weather.

Photo: Miroslav Zmijovsky