Walking enthusiasts are increasingly looking for places to enjoy views of the wider countryside. A great way to enjoy the hiking and views is to go to one of the lookout towers. One of them is the Balažka lookout tower above the town of Lipany (Sabinov district), which has several novelties.
In the Šariš region you will find a number of beautiful lookout towers with views of the whole surroundings. In 2019, a wooden lookout tower was built above the town of Lipany on the forested mountain massif of Balažka (643 m above sea level), which is bordered by a railway line. The lookout tower below the top of Balažka, made of spruce wood, is almost 14 metres.
Its location at altitude 598 m offers views of the town of Lipany itself, Kamenický hrad, the nearby surroundings, the Čergov Mountains, the Levoča Hills and, with good visibility, the Slanské vrchy Mountains.
Increased attractiveness of the lookout tower
The Regional Tourism Organisation (OOCR) Region Šariš develops many interesting activities for visitors to the region. One of them are observation telescopes in tourist attractions. In 2021, OOCR Region Šariš in cooperation with the town of Lipany set up observation telescope at the lookout tower at the end of the Balažka nature trail. The telescope provides a unique panoramic view of the town of Lipany and the mountains that surround it.
In this recreation zone also added 3 photo panels on the lookout tower. "From the resources of the state subsidy of OOCR Región Šariš, we have made this lookout even more attractive and added panoramic photographs processed on photo panels with a description of the places that are visible from this vantage point," said Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of OOCR Región Šariš.
Ascent to the lookout tower
What you must not forget, however, is the fact that you have to work a little hard to get a nice view. So they created two basic tourist circuits. Circle "Little Rock" offers a vantage point from the cross. There is an Italian well, partisan trenches, a sitting area and information boards. Circuit "The Great Rock" offers a route along the Balažka ridge, both routes are interconnected and have several connection points. From the city centre can be reached from the old cemetery, from where a green hiking trail leads.
Start of the route: Lipany (381 m above sea level) old cemetery
End of route: Balažka lookout tower (600 m above sea level)
Time: 1:00 h
Distance: 3.4 km
Climb: 219 m
Dropping: ↘ 0 m
Difficulty: suitable for all ages
Source:OOCR Región Šariš
