Vyšehrad

Vyšehrad-the mystical fortress of Prague

Vyšehrad is a place where, in ancient times, the Czech state was born. For many centuries, Vyšehrad witnessed, and sometimes actively participated in many historical events. Also associated with Vyšehrad are a huge number of legends, which over time have been used as evidence of the magnificent past of the Czech people.

In the most common legend about the emergence of Prague, it is written how the legendary princess Libuše predicted the glory of the future capital of the principality: "I see a big city, the glory of which reaches the stars." These words were allegedly uttered to Libuše, standing on top of a cliff, where Vyšehrad is today. Indeed, Prague was not only the capital of the Czech state, but also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

Not far from Prague Castle, Vyšehrad represented the side residence of the Czech rulers of the Přemyslid and Luxembourg dynasties. Some of them lived here from time to time, others permanently. Of particular importance was Vyšehrad in the era of Charles IV, but soon after his death, the castle was mined and destroyed during the Hussite Wars.

Vyšehrad is an ideal place for walking at any time of the year. This was once an impregnable fortress, but today the Vyšehrad gates are open day and night. From the height of the hill there is a fascinating view of Prague: both on the nearby New and Old Town, Lesser Town, Hradcany, and on the distant districts of the capital.

In addition here, in Vyšehrad, there is a place of eternal reassurance of Czech art and culture figures. Today in the cemetery one can find burial places of such prominent representatives of the Czech creative elite as Bozena Nemtsova, Karel Čapek, Alfons Mucha, Bedrich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and others.

Many observation platforms, the 11^th century old Romanesque rotunda of St. Martin, a park with sculptures of heroes of Czech legends, the Neo-Gothic Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, the relics of St. Valentine, the Devil's Column and the image of a devil painted on the wall of the church, all this and much more will not leave you indifferent to this mysterious place.