Observatoř Kleť

Kleť Observatory is an astronomical observatory in the Český Krumlov district, standing atop Mount Kleť at 1,070 m above sea level in the Blanský les forest. It is part of the Observatory and Planetarium in České Budějovice and also the highest-altitude observatory in Czechia. Its position high above the valley guarantees good conditions for observing the night sky.

The observatory focuses mainly on the KLENOT project, dedicated to observing near-Earth and other unusual objects — including the "hunt" for asteroids. It operates two telescopes: a 0.57-meter reflector since 1993 and a 1.06-meter KLENOT reflector since 2002. Thanks to this equipment, Kleť ranks among significant observation sites, and many hundreds of asteroids and several comets have been discovered here.

From 1966 to 1991 the director was Antonín Mrkos. The observatory's history is also inseparably tied to the astronomers Jana Tichá, director since 1992, and Miloš Tichý. It is their work that lies behind many of the discoveries that made this place famous in the scientific world. A visit to Kleť thus combines the experience of being high in the mountains with a glimpse into real scientific work.

The public can usually visit the observatory on weekends in May and June and every day in July and August. Kleť's summit is also a popular hiking destination with views over the surrounding countryside, so a visit to the observatory can be conveniently combined with a trip into the nature of the Blanský les forest and with exploring nearby Český Krumlov. If you plan your stay in the region with lodging nearby, you'll have time to climb Kleť unencumbered, enjoy the views and the atmosphere of Czechia's highest-altitude observatory.