© 2017 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Yes, there is another castle in Prague…well, sort of.
Situated on a rocky bluff overlooking the Vltava River, Vyšehrad, or “The Castle on the Heights”, was established in the mid 10th century and according to local legends, the oldest seat of Bohemian rulers and was probably the location of the first settlement which later became Prague.
After the Prague Castle’s origins, the deteriorating castle of Vyšehrad was abandoned as a royal home. After renovations by Charles IV, new fortifications with two gates and a royal palace were added to the complex. Later, however, after the Hussite Wars, the castle was abandoned and fell into ruin. Renovations during the 17th century established it as a Baroque fortress, a training center for the Austrian Army and later incorporated the fort into the Baroque city walls around Prague.
Today, Vysehrad is a place of recreation as well as history. Czech citizens visit the grounds, which have now become a public park, for amusement, relaxation and celebration. Tourists visit to see the many architectural treasures on the site.
There are four gates located in the complex. The Brick Gate (Cihelná brána), built in the Empire style in 1841, is made up of a passageway and two pedestrian passages flanked by two guard rooms. The 17th century Tabor Gate, which was our entry point and the main entrance was built by King Charles IV and leads to the 17th century Leopold Gate. You can also find the remains of the Špička Gate.
Walking through the peaceful grounds, we admired the sculpture that graced the premises as well as the breathtaking views along the ramparts overlooking the Vltava River.
Marveling over the Rotunda of St. Martin, it was astonishing that this rare, Romanesque building still stands strong today. Built in the 11th century, it is one of Prague’s oldest surviving buildings. Used for gunpowder storage during the Thirty Years’ War, it is now used for religious purposes. When admiring this ancient edifice, be sure to seek out the cannonball from the Prussian rampage in 1758, which is embedded in the facade to the right of the window.
The neo-Gothic Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul was a landmark that I would love to have visited, however, a wedding was being held during the time we were there and we were not admitted into the church. The basilica, founded in 1070-1080 and later rebuilt after a devastating fire, features an impressive stone mosaic above the entry and twin spires that can be seen from many locations throughout Prague.
Behind the church is the Vyšehrad cemetery, the final resting place of many famous Czechs, including author Karel Capek, composers Antonín Dvorák and Bedřich Smetana and artist Alphonse Mucha as well as many other scribes and politicians.
To the right of the basilica, check out the huge statues, designed by Josef Mysbek, which depict figures of Czech Mythology. The four statues show an allegorical couple, “Lumír and Piseň” (singer and muse), “Ctirad and Šárka” (temptress who lured him to his death in the 7th century War of the Maidens), “Záboj and Slavoj” (warriors who fought off a Frankish incursion in the 9th century) and ” Libuše and Přemysl” (mythical founders of Prague).
In order to explore all of Vyšehrad, you’ll need a few hours and it helps to have a beautiful day! Bring a picnic or indulge at one of the cafés, and don’t forget to spend some time looking out over the river and the city views…sunset can be quite impressive! But, no matter what time of day you visit…just do!
Check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe for more pictures.
Vyšehrad
- http://www.praha-vysehrad.cz/
- Address: National Heritage Site Vyšehrad, V Pevnosti 159 / 5b, Praha 2 128 00
- Hours: Exhibition, January-March, November-December, 0930-1700, April-October, 0930-1800
- Admission: free
- Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, April-October: Daily 1000-1800, November-March: Daily 1000-1700
- Getting There: Metro line C, stop Vyšehrad. Tram lines 7, 14, 18, 24, 53, 55, stop Albertov. Tram line 2, 3, 7, 17, 21, 52, stop Výtoň. Parking in the Vysehrad area is possible only at the designated places between Leopoldova and Táborská brana.