Biskupia Kopa in the Opawskie Mountains

Biskupia Kopa (say "bees-KOO-pya KOH-pa"; 890 m) is the highest peak of the Opawskie Mountains, a small range of the eastern Sudetes on the Poland–Czech border, and one of the peaks of the Crown of Polish Mountains. Beech forests, a mountain hut with almost a century of history and a stone lookout tower from 1898 make it a rewarding day hike in the Opole region, about two hours' drive from Wrocław.

History of the peak and its tower

The mountain's German name was Bischofskoppe. Its stone lookout tower was built in 1898 by a Moravian-Silesian Sudeten hiking society to mark the 50th year of Emperor Franz Joseph I's reign – the first stone lookout in the Jeseníky region. Closed to the public in 1966, when a TV relay was installed, it reopened in 1998. The tower stands on the Czech side of the summit and is about 18–19 meters tall.

On the Polish side, the PTTK mountain hut "Pod Kopą Biskupią" has welcomed hikers since 1924.

Hiking trails

Four marked trails reach the summit:

• red – from Głuchołazy via Jarnołtówek (part of the Main Sudetes Trail);
• yellow – from Jarnołtówek;
• green and blue – from Zlaté Hory in Czechia, the blue one passing the ruins of Leuchtenštejn Castle.

Another favorite is the Bystry Potok Valley nature trail from Pokrzywna, about 7.4 km and 2 hours 15 minutes. Roots, stones and clay can be slippery after rain, so wear shoes with good grip. Allow 3–5 hours for the round trip with a break at the top. The trails are not technical, so active families can manage them.

Lookout tower: hours and admission

The tower is run by the Czech organization Zlatohorsko kraj pokladů. As of October 2026:

• May–September: daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m.;
• October: daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m.;
• November: Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.;
• December–March: weekends 10 a.m.–3 p.m.;
• April: weekends 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

It closes in bad weather. Admission is 50 CZK per person, paid at a self-service machine by card or in Czech coins – Polish złoty are not accepted. Contact: +420 588 884 606.

Best time to go

May, when the beeches turn fresh green, and October, with golden foliage and daily tower opening, are the highlights. In winter trails can be icy and the tower opens on weekends only.

Getting there

Start from Jarnołtówek or Pokrzywna, villages near the towns of Głuchołazy and Prudnik, where there are trailhead parking areas. Wrocław and Katowice airports are each roughly two to two and a half hours away by car. Since Poland and Czechia are in the Schengen Area you can walk freely across the border, but carry an ID.

Is it worth it? If you enjoy quiet, forested hills and a classic old lookout tower, yes – the summit is far less crowded than the Tatras or Karkonosze.

Nearby

Zlaté Hory, a former gold-mining town, lies just below the Czech side. On the Polish side, Prudnik has a medieval tower and a Franciscan monastery, and Głuchołazy a historic market square.