Černá Studnice Lookout Tower
The peak with a stone lookout tower, 869 meters above sea level, which is visible from almost all corners of the cities of Jablonec nad Nisou and Liberec, is called Černá studnice. The lookout tower, together with the tourist hut of the same name, was built in 1905 and provides an exceptionally great circular view of the surrounding peaks of the Jizera Mountains.
At 26 meters, Černá Studnice is one of the highest stone lookout towers in the Jizera Mountains. After climbing a total of 91 steps, visitors are greeted by a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding peaks of the Jizera Mountains with many lookout towers (Královka, Tanvaldský Špičák, Bramberk), as well as Ještěd, Ralsko, Kozákov, Trosky Castle with the surrounding area of Bohemian Paradise, as well as Bezděz Castle and Sněžka with other Krkonoše peaks.
A small arboretum from 1925, which was completely abandoned after World War II, has been restored in recent years. The original small botanical garden at the Černé Studnice lookout tower dates back to 1925. The idea to restore this small botanical garden came from the former local forest ranger Pavel Polák. Foresters have been working on restoring the so-called Flowers of the Fatherland since 2001. At that time, they began to plant trees in the arboretum area that had disappeared from there over the years. Currently, twenty-one species of trees can be seen in the arboretum, which will be gradually supplemented with others.
A rock town near Černá Studnice. On the ridge path leading from the Černá Studnice lookout tower to the Berany saddle, after about 1 km, you can see several massive rock groups made of local Černá Studnice or Železná Brod granite on the right. These are called Čertový skály (Devil's Rocks). According to local folklore, there is a long legend associated with the place. The rocks are said to be the work of a hellhound. A real-life figure also took refuge in Čertový skály for some time – the famous North Bohemian robber Josef Kögler, originally a stonemason in the Černá Studnice quarry. In October 1893, he robbed a woman returning from a pawn shop of 84 florins and shot her, fortunately not fatally, in the face. The local rock cave is still called Kögler's Cave. The lowest of the Čertový skály (Devil's Rocks), called Huškova, hides a cross, a year and a monogram on one of its walls. Here, in 1875, the Smržov forester Anton Huschek shot himself. The Devil's Hammer rock and several other rocks offer interesting climbing terrain and are often climbed by climbers.
You can climb to the top of Černá Studnice from Pěnčín along the tourist trail from the village of Dolní Černá Studnice, which is located near the Kittel area in Krásná, but you can also reach the top by car or bicycle.
