The small border town of Luby (former German name Schönbach) in western Bohemia is well-known especially for its production of string instruments. Keen golfers will surely appreciate the new golf course and hikers keen-set for breath-taking views will surely enjoy the scenery from the top of the new wooden observation tower built in 2005. The 22-metre high observation tower was built by Horal Resort s.r.o., a company from Cheb, between June and August 2005. Forty-two cubic metres of timber were used for the construction of the tower.
Fig.: Observation Tower
The grand opening of the tower took place on August 14, 2005. You may find the tower at the foot of the Nad Dvorem Hill (literally meaning Hill Above the Farmstead, 632m) not far from the golf course. In addition, the Rozhledna Open (Lookout Tower) golf tournament was held at the occasion of the opening of the observation tower. The lookout platform located at the height of 18 metres offers of view of the landscape in the north (Tříslová [Tannic] Hill 647m, Vysoký Kámen [Tall Rock] Hill 773m) and in the east Zlatý [Golden] Hill 631m, U rozhledny [Next to the Lookout Tower] Hill 639m). The view in the westward direction is limited by the nearby Liščí hora (Fox Mountain) rising to 657 metres. Under good visibility conditions, we may see as far as the massif of Slavkovský les (Slavkov Forest) in the south.
Fig. Sketch map of the Luby ore district
On the slope of the Lubinka brooks right bank in the village Horní Luby a historical district of mercury ore is located. The beginnings of mining are dated perhaps to as early as the year 1230 with a great boom during the rule of Carl IV. The mining activity culminated in the 16th century, when Horní Luby, with the annual production of 5-15 tons of mercury, belonged to the producers of European significance.
Fig.: Cinnabar
The area is built by sericite-chlorite phyllites with partings of quartzite and graphitic rocks. The main and only mercury ore was cinnabar (mercury sulphide), accompanied by various amounts of pyrite. Cinnabar forms fine-grained impregnations in phyllites. Its greatest accumulations were found in silicified zones, locally accompanied by carbonates.