Kle Mountain
Kle Mountain at 1084 m above sea level is the highest mountain of Blanský Forest in the northwest part of the District. A document from 1624 states that there is "an abundance of deer, bears, boars, lynxes, wolves, wild cats, foxes, rabbits, grouse and song birds".
The name of the mountain Kle, is one of the oldest names of any Czech mountain. In historical documents we can track the name as follows :
1263 - Mons Naklethi
1318 - Naklati
1445 - Kletie
1600 - Kleta
1624 - Kle, Kletý
from the 17th century - Schöniger, popularly Schönigl, énygl
end of 19th century - Klet
from 1918 - Kle
At the beginning of the 19th century, the mountain was visited only to be measured and entered on maps. Kle is a place of incredible panoramic view. Even before building the look-out tower, people used to come here to see the Alps. The Duke Joseph Johann Nepomuk zu Schwarzenberg was a passionate walker and traveller, and it was under his order that the stone look-out tower was built directly on the top of the mountain. It was built between 1822 and 1825. It is the oldest stone look-out tower in Bohemia, and you can see the Alps from here in cold weather. It was named Joseph´s tower after its founder. Between 1824 and 1825 the tower became a trigonometric point for cartographical works, and that is why not only thousands of tourists went there, but also planners.
A hundred years after its building, in 1925, there was a cottage built there for tourists. It was patronised by the Dutchess Terezie zu Schwarzenberg, and the cottage was named after her, Terezie´s cottage.
Today Kle and its surroundings are the target for many thousands of tourists all year round. It is possible to reach the top via different routes starting from different places of the region - from Český Krumlov,
Holubov,
Křeme,
Chvaliny,
Zlatá Koruna,
Brloh, and others. In winter it is a paradise for skiers. The very difficult Run to Kle has become a traditional annual sport venue. In both winter and summer it is possible to reach the top by a cablecar, which beginns in Krasetín u Holubova. It is 1752 m long and it reaches a height of 383 m. It has been in use since 1961.
In 1957 the construction of the transmission tower SOUTH BOHEMIA (116 m high) began and two years later began operation. In 1967 the works on building the tower for the 2nd colour programme of the Czechoslovakian television (about 180 m high) began.
From the years 1958 to 1961 the observatory was built
(Observatory and Planetarium Kle).
Legends :
Once upon a time, there was an impregnable castle on the highest mountain of the Blanský les, and in it there lived, and ruled peacefully, the Duke Hrozen. He had only one daughter, the beautiful Krasava. Many boys wished to marry her, especially a handsome boy with a dark face and sparkling eyes, who was said to be the Devil. When he found out he was identified, and Krasava did not want to marry him, he swore revenge. One day, when everyone from the castle was away on a hunt, he created a terrible storm above Kle, which broke the strong walls of the castle and scattered stones all around. The stones today laying at the top of the mountain are said to be remains of the castle destroyed by the Devil himself.
Further information :
Blanský Forest Nature Reserve
Places of interest in the Český Krumlov Region
Places of Interest in Český Krumlov
Exposition - Cultural and Natural Significance of Kle Mountain
Cable railway KLE
© Sdruení Oficiálního informačního systému Český Krumlov, 1999
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