Vysehrad Park and old Fortress

Prague, city of legends and mysteries: its origins could not be mysterious either. One of Prague’s many legends has it that the city originated in Vyšehrad, a rocky promontory above the Vltava River.

Historical records do not give precise data, but it seems that this area was already inhabited before the 9th century and certainly the fortified village was built in the 10th century, making Vyšehrad the oldest area of Prague.

Today this ‘rock on the river’ is an area full of parks, beautiful to visit for its panoramic views and breathtaking views of the Vltava River. Come for a walk through the greenery or on the ancient walls to enjoy the fantastic views and feel out of time.

For a thrill ride up the hill at sunset, when the slowly changing colour of the sky and the reflections of light on the river make Prague one of the most romantic and atmospheric cities in the world.

Vysehrad legend and history

According to legend, the mythical founders of Prague and the Premslid dynasty were Princess Libuše, who predicted from her residence in Vysehrad the birth of ‘a city whose glory will reach the stars’, and her husband, Přemysl the Ploughman.

The old fortress of Vysehrad, whose name means ‘high castle’, was fortified in the 10th century; it was Vratislav II who moved the court of the Premslid kings to Vysehrad from the castle, reinforced the walls and had new buildings constructed. His successors remained in the fortress until 1140, when the court was moved back to Prague Castle.

Having fallen into oblivion, Vysehrad was restored by Charles IV, who realised its symbolic importance and decided that the coronation of the kings of Bohemia should include a procession from the fortress to the castle.

A renewed interest in the Vysehrad area occurred with the Czech cultural renaissance and the years of patriotism.

Things to do in Vysehrad

The Vyšehrad hills hide numerous treasures, both historical and architectural. Some of the most interesting sights in the area, in addition to the beautiful park and the almost entirely walkable city walls, include:

• Brick Gate, housing a permanent exhibition on the history of the fortress
• Underground Tunnels, a system of underground tunnels beneath the ramparts, used during World War II as an air-raid shelter and a potato storehouse. Here you can admire some of the original Baroque statues of Charles Bridge (the others are in the Lapidarium)
• Gothic cellars, other underground galleries housing a collection of archaeological finds and religious objects illustrating life in Vysehrad from 3800 BC to the present day.
• Romanesque Rotunda of St Martin, a small, pretty chapel from the 11th century
• Neo-Gothic Church of St Peter and St Paul, rebuilt several times over the centuries, is famous for its twin bell towers soaring into the Prague sky (added to the church in 1903)
• Slavín National Cemetery, a beautiful memorial cemetery for the great personalities of the Czech Republic. The artist Alphonse Mucha, the composer Bedřich Smetana and the writer Jan Neruda, among others, are buried here.
• Vysehrad Gallery, a hall for temporary exhibitions built on the walls

How to visit the Vysehrad Fortress

The Vyšehrad Fortress and park are easily accessible by metro or tram.

Some areas of Vyšehrad are free to enter, while some attractions charge a fee; there is no single ticket, tickets for individual attractions must be purchased separately.

However, as Vysehrad is a district along the Vltava, Prague’s river, many choose to see it directly from the water with a boat tour.