Petřín Hill in Prague – how to get there on your own, photo, map
Prague, in itself, is located on the hills, but one of them has a special meaning for the city. Petřín Hill in Prague – the name most likely comes from the word “Peter” – stone. Today it is a large and very beautiful park and entertainment complex. Its history is inextricably linked with the history of the Czech capital.
History of Petřín
Previously, pagans worshiped their gods here, in the 10th century. the first Catholic church appeared here, later – defensive walls. And in the 19th and 20th centuries there were many buildings that still attract tourists here. The most impressive historical monuments are the Hungry Wall and the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. The Hungry Wall was built in the 14th century. by order of King Charles II. At that time, Prague was threatened by the raids of numerous conquerors, and the king, whose palace was nearby, wanted to protect himself and his city with all his might. The poor who built the wall received food for their families for their work.
The Church of St. Lawrence was built in the 10th century. just at the place where the pagans used to worship Perun. Over the long years of its history, the church was repeatedly rebuilt, it was closed and reopened. Now it is a fine example of an architectural structure in the Baroque style and has the status of a cathedral. It is believed that St. Lawrence patronizes the mountains and the people living on their slopes.
Sights of Petřín Hill
Among the attractions of Petrin Hill, first of all, they mention the Observation Tower, which was built at the end of the 19th century, and resembles its Parisian “older sister” – the Eiffel Tower. You can go upstairs either by stairs or by a paid elevator. A majestic panorama opens up from the observation deck – a view of old and new Prague. This spectacle is especially beautiful in the evening hours – the tower itself is also lit, the city below is burning with a thousand lights. At the bottom of the tower they sell souvenirs, and here you can also taste Czech delicacies in a small cafe. Amusement lovers will be attracted by the Mirror Maze. It will seem to you that you are in a palace with countless corridors. The main thing here is to walk carefully so as not to collide with mirrors.
Another object that will be interesting to visit for both adults and children is the Stefanik Observatory. Here they give lectures, talk about space. You can see a thematic exhibition and even buy a piece of a meteorite as a keepsake. But the main thing is that here they let you look into one of the two large telescopes intended for visitors to the observatory. The main thing is that the weather is good. You can observe both the Moon and stars, nebulae, galaxies. On the top of the hill there are several churches and a monastery, not all of them are freely accessible, but the very appearance gives an idea of the Czech architecture of the past centuries. There are also many monuments dedicated to poets, writers, prominent cultural figures. At one of them – a monument to Karel G. Maha – boys and girls like to make dates. The surroundings are the most romantic.
There are several gardens on Petřín Hill, including the Rose Garden, where thousands of these beautiful flowers grow. One can only imagine what a fragrance spreads in the air when they bloom. Another monument – to the Victims of Communism – also makes a strong impression. It was installed after the fall of the communist regime in the Czech Republic. The monument consists of 7 figures, each subsequent one is destroyed more and more. This symbolizes the disintegration of the personality during the period of domination of the totalitarian system, as well as the massive human sacrifices that the Czech Republic suffered at that time.
How to get on your own
To get to the foot of Petřín Hill, you need to use trams No. 6, 9, 12, 20, 22, 57, 58, 59 and get to the Uyezd stop. You can climb up either on your own – along asphalt paths, or with the help of a funicular that runs every 30 minutes.