Sněžka ( in Czech; "Śnieżka" in Polish; "Schneekoppe" in German) is the highest mountain in the Giant Mountains ("Krkonoše" in Czech, "Karkonosze" in Polish), part of the Sudetes mountain range. Standing at 1602 metres above sea level, it is also the highest point in the Czech Republic and lies directly on the border with Poland.

History

Initially called Pahrbek Sněžný in Czech, it was renamed Sněžovka, with the eventual name Sněžka, meaning "snowy" or "snow covered" adopted in 1823.

The first historical account of an ascent to the peak is in 1456, by an unknown Venetian merchant searching for precious stones. The first settlements on the mountain soon appeared, being primarily mining communities, tapping into its deposits of copper, iron and arsenic. The mining shafts, totalling 1.5 km in length, remain preserved to this day.

The first building on the mountaintop was the chapel of St. Vavřinec, built circa 1665-1681, serving also as an inn for a brief period of time. A hut (bouda in Czech) was built on the Polish side in 1850, followed by one on the Czech side in 1868, both built with the purpose of providing lodging. The Polish hut has been since rebuilt twice after falling victim to fire.

A wooden weather station was built on the mountaintop circa 1900, being the only such station in Central Europe remaining intact after World War II. It was demolished in the 1980s.

The mountaintop today

The mountaintop is separated into the Czech and Polish sides by a sign that says "state border" in both languages, with no other forms of border control in place.

The Polish side is host to the abandoned "Polish hut" and a circle-shaped hotel, built in 1976. The Czech side features the remains of the "Czech hut", a post office and a chairlift station, connecting the peak with the town of Pec pod Sněžkou at the base of the mountain.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2004 for a new post office and observation platform to replace the current post office and the "Czech hut".

External links:

• A Krkonoše information portal
• Sněžka chairlift information (including current status and webcam)
• photo gallery (pl)