Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

180  PR A GUE AREA B Y AREA

A One-Hour Walk in Vyšehrad

According to ancient legend, Vyšehrad was the first seat of
Czech royalty. It was from this spot that Princess Libuše is
said to have prophesied the future glory of the city of Prague
(see pp22–3). However, archaeological research indicates
that the first castle on Vyšehrad was not built until the 10th
century. The fortress suffered a turbulent history and was
rebuilt many times. Today, it is above all a peaceful place with
parks and unrivalled views of the Vltava valley and Prague.
The fascinating cemetery is the last resting place of many
famous Czech writers, actors, artists and musicians.
5 Decorative sculpture on the
Baroque Leopold Gate

3, 17, 21

V N I S L A V O
V
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N E K L A N O V A
V R A T I S L A V O V A
u N E K L A N O V A
r V P E V N O S T I S L A V O J O V A
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Š Ī N O V O N Á B Ř E Ž Í
VYŠEHRADSKÉ K R O T U N D Ĕ y
SADY
8
0 The ruin of Libuše’s Baths on the cliff w SOBĚSLAVOVA 9 7 Č I K L O V A
face of Vyšehrad Rock q L U M Í R O V A 1
5 Vyšehrad
V Pevnosti Ahead 0 6 2
From Vyšehrad metro 1, take of you is V P E V N OST I
the exit for the Congress Centre the west
Prague 2, walk up the steps entrance to 4
and continue straight ahead the fortress, U P O D O L S K É H O S A N A T O R I A NA BUČAN CE
with views of Prague Castle the mid-17th- 3
to your right. Go down the century Tábor NA PANKRÁCI
incline and straight ahead into Gate 3. Through the
the quiet street Na Bučance. gate on the right are the ruins PODOLSK É
Cross the road, turn right at the of the 14th-century fortifications
end, and you find yourself on V built by Charles IV. Further on Key
Pevnosti, facing the brick walls are the ruins of the original Walk route
of the original Vyšehrad Citadel. Gothic gate, Špička 4. Past
that is the sculpture- Castle wall
adorned Leopold 0 metres 200
Gate 5, one of the
most impressive parts 0 yards 200
of these 17th-century
fortifications. It A few metres on your left, almost
adjoins the brick concealed behind high walls, is
walls 6 that were the New Deanery 7. Situated
widened during the at the corner of K rotundě and
French occupation Soběslavova streets is the
of 1742. Canon’s House 8. Turn left
down Soběslavova to see the
K rotundě to excavations of the foundations
Soběslavova Street of the Basilica of St Lawrence 9.
Turn right out of the This was built by Vratislav II, the
gate and just after first Bohemian king, in the late
18th-century engraving by I G Ringle, showing St Martin’s Rotunda, 11th century, but was destroyed
Vyšehrad and the Vltava turn left into K rotundě. by the Hussites (see pp28–9) in
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