Dolní Vítkovice
Description – Bolt Tower
Daily, up to 1,200 tonnes of raw iron were produced in the depths of Blast Furnace No. 1. Today, visitors follow the trail of this iron.
The unique, over twenty-metre high extension of Blast Furnace No. 1 rises to nearly 80 metres. Around the glass cylinder, suspended from the original structure of the blast furnace, wraps an external walkway connecting the various levels. The solid core of the extension is made of steel and houses an elevator, a spiral staircase, and facilities for visitors. The rooftop observation terrace, equipped with telescopes, offers extraordinary views of Vítkovice, the city of Ostrava itself, and the distant surroundings with the captivating horizon of the Beskids.
Visit Bolt Café and enjoy the view of Ostrava and its surroundings.
From the blast furnace to the viewpoint
The production of raw iron ended in Blast Furnace No. 1 with the last tapping on 27 September 1998. A few years later, the furnace was transformed into an educational and viewing route, and in 2015, an extension called Bolt Tower was added at its top, designed by architect Josef Pleskot. The entire structure with the extension measures 77.7 metres.
The name Bolt Tower, meaning screw tower, originated from a public competition. It refers to the shape of the extension and to Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who inaugurated the tower shortly after its opening.
You can visit Bolt Tower independently with a visit to Bolt Café, or as part of the guided tour "Blast Furnace Circuit," which takes you through the iron production process up to the top of the furnace.
2015
Building of the Year
235 metres
Length of the adrenaline walkway
25 metres
Height of the extension of Blast Furnace No. 1
77.7 metres
Total height of the building
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