GuideGuide

Czech RepublicsipkaRegion by regionsipkaPraguesipkaPrague attractionssipkaVysehrad

Vysehrad metro station, line C

Vysehrad means "castle on the heights".
A step cliff overlooking the river Vltava has been associated with the myth of the foundation of the Czech State and Prague itself. Legend has it that it was here the legendary founders of the Premyslid dynasty, Libuse and Premysl, resided, and where Libuse prophesied the town eternal glory "touching upon the stars".
The medieval legend, revived at the Romantic period, has been confronted with a more sober scientific conclusion that while there are indeed traces of human settlement on this site dating from as early as 4000B.C., the medieval fortress of Vysehrad is actually younger then Prague Castle. This notwithstanding, while visiting Vysehrad and walking through the park decorated with statues by J. V. Myslbek on themes from old Bohemian legends, or admiring a view of the river and the city from the top of the cliff one is very likely to succumb to the illusion and believe the ancient legends.
Impossible to get lost within the walls of the former fortress, wherever you go you are certain to find something of interest. Just behind the majestic Leopold Gate built in 1670 stands the Romanesque St. Martin's rotunda, the earliest preserved structure in Vysehrad.
In the building of the Old Deanery visitors can inspect the foundation of the St. Lawrence basilica, while the New Deanery is frequently the value of concerts and literary programmes. Apart from a number of statues, the park is also known for its mysterious "devil's stones" and the remains of the earliest stone bridge in Prague. Vysehrad's most familiar landmark is the chapter church of St. Peter and Paul, originally built in the Romanesque style, but rebuilt many times, most recently in the 19th century by architects Mocker and Mikes in neo-Gothic style.
Vysehrad, emblazoned with legends, including the primary national myth, was in the mid-19th century selected as the most suitable of places for a national cemetery which would be resting place for the nation's elite. In the 1880s, the chairman of the Smichov district council P. Fisher had a large monument knows as Slavin (Pantheon) built on the site of a medieval cemetery after a design of architect A. Wiehl.
Fifty-one of the foremost Czech artists, scientists and politicians have so far been buried at Slavin, and the graves of 500 other major figures can be found elsewhere in the cemetary. With most of the gravestones the work of leading Czech sculptors, this is yet another of Prague's open-air art galleries.

Permanent exhibition of Vysehrad history open daily:
April - October: 09:30 - 17:30
November - March: 09:30 - 16:30

Photo gallery

logo
white
logo
logo
 
point   Czech Republic
point   History CZ
point   Useful information
point   Tourist attractions
point   Region by region
point   Prague
point   District by district
point   Prague attractions
point   St.Vitus Cathedral
point   Prague Castle
point   Charles Bridge
point   Old Town Square
point   Jewish Prague
point   Emausy Monastery
point   Botanic Garden
point   Prague Breweries
point   Prague ZOO
point   Vysehrad
point   Petrin Outlook Tower
point   St.Nicholas Temple
point   Strahov monastery
point   Bertramka - Mozart muzeum
point   Vystaviste - Prague exhibition area
point   History of Prague
point   Entertainment
point   Tourist info
point   How to get there
point   Central Bohemia
point   Northern Bohemia (Liberec)
point   North-West Bohemia (Usti nad Labem)
point   Western Bohemia (Karlovy Vary)
point   South-West Bohemia (Plzen)
point   Southern Bohemia (Ceske Budejovice)
point   South-East Bohemia (Jihlava)
point   Eastern Bohemia (Pardubice)
point   North-East Bohemia (Hradec Kralove)
point   Southern Moravia (Brno)
point   South-East Moravia (Zlin)
point   Northern Moravia (Ostrava)
point   North-west Moravia (Olomouc)
point   Interactive map of the Czech republic
point   Activities
home  Back to homepage
summary  My cart (0 item(s))



Dovolená Egypt | Dovolená Řecko | Dovolená Turecko | Dovolená Tunisko

Last minute Egypt | Last minute Řecko | Last minute Turecko | Last minute Tunisko

Prague Apartments for rent

Prague apartments

Prague apartments for rent and hotels - Accommodation in Prague and the Czech Republic - Travel.cz

Need immediate help or consultation? Go to the on-line discussion with our operators or contact us on:
CZ - Prague - phone +420-224 990 990-7, fax +420-224 990 999, toll free numbers: 800 800 722 (CZ),
e-mail reservations@travel.cz or ICQ 267010033.
Accommodation in Prague & Czech Republic |  Prague Tours |  Theatre Tickets |  Rent a Car |  Transfers | Site Map

Secure online payments are provided by globalpayments Europe.