Page 143 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

LIT TLE QU AR TER  141

musical notation and the social
occasions linked to certain
instruments. Earphones offer
high­quality sound repro duction
of original recordings made on
the instruments displayed. The
museum’s collections can be
accessed via the study room,
and there is a listening studio
for the library of recordings.

l Michna Palace
(Tyrš House)
Nebozízek, the station halfway up Petřín’s funicular railway Michnův Palác (Tyršův Dům)
h Petřín Park originally powered by water. Újezd 40. Map 2 E4. Tel 257 007 111.
v 12, 20, 22.
Petřínské Sady In this form, it remained in
operation until 1914, then In about 1580, Ottavio Aostalli
Map 2 D5. v 6, 9, 12, 20, 22, then
take funicular railway. See Four Guided between the wars was built a summer palace for the
Walks pp176–7. converted to electricity. In 1965, Kinský family on the site of an
it had to be shut down old Dominican convent. In
To the west of the Little because part of the 1623, the building was bought
Quarter, Petřín Hill rises hillside collapsed – coal by Pavel Michna of Vacínov, a
above the city to a had been mined here supply officer in the Imperial
height of 318 m during the 19th century. Army, who had grown rich after
(960 ft). The name Shoring up the slope and the Battle of the White Mountain.
derives either from the rebuilding the railway He commissioned a Baroque
Slavonic god Perun, to took 20 years, but since building that he hoped would
whom sacrifices were its reopening in 1985, it rival the palace of his late com­
made on the hill, or from has proved a reliable way mander, Wallenstein (see p126).
the Latin name Mons of getting up Petřín Hill. In 1767, the palace was sold
Petrinus, meaning “rocky At the halfway station, to the army and over the years it
hill”. A forest used to Nebozízek, there is a became a crumbling ruin. After
stretch from here as far restaurant (see p201) 1918, it was bought by Sokol (a
as the White Mountain Karel Hynek Mácha with fine views of the physical culture association) and
(see p33). In the 12th statue in Petřín Park Castle and the city. converted into a gym and sports
century, the southern centre with a training ground in
side of the hill was planted the old palace garden and, dating
with vineyards, but by the 18th k Museum of Music from 1925, the oldest swimming
century, most of these had České Muzeum Hudby pool in Prague. The restored
been transformed into gardens Karmelitská 2, Praha 1, Malá Strana. palace was renamed Tyrš House
and orchards. Map 2 E4. Tel 257 257 777. in honour of Sokol’s founder.
Today, a path winds up the X Malostranská. v 12, 20, 22.
slopes of Petřín, offering fine Open 10am–6pm Wed–Mon.
views of Prague. In the park is & 7 ∑ nm.cz
the Monument to the Victims
of Communism (2002) by the Housed in the former 17th­
sculptor Olbram Zoubek and a century Baroque Church of
monument to Romantic poet St Magdalene, the Museum of
Karel Hynek Mácha. Music seeks to present musical
instruments not only as fine
specimens of crafts manship and
j Funicular Railway artistry, but also as mediators
Lanová Dráha between man and music.
The museum is run by the
Újezd. Map 2 D5. v 6, 9, 12, 20, 22. In
operation 9am–11:30pm daily (winter: National Museum (see p147).
to 11:20pm). & (also valid for public Exhibits include a look at the
transport). 7 ∑ dpp.cz diversity of popular 20th­century
music as preserved in television,
Built to carry visitors to the 1891 film, photographs and sound
Jubilee Exhibition up to the recordings. Also examined is the
Observation Tower at the top production of handcrafted Restored Baroque façade of the
of Petřín Hill, the funicular was instruments, the history of Michna Palace (Tyrš House)

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