Vyšehrad

Vyšehrad is a rock hill above the Vltava River in Prague, home since the 10th century to a stronghold that stood alongside Prague Castle as the second historic seat of Bohemian princes. Today it is a quiet park scattered with landmarks, a favourite viewpoint over the city, and the final resting place of some of the most important figures in Czech culture.

Where did the Vyšehrad stronghold come from?

Settlement on the rock above the river dates back to the first half of the 10th century, when the site was known under a name close to Chrasten and served a purely military role. Vyšehrad is tied to one of the best-known Czech legends: it was supposedly from here that Princess Libuše, regarded as a prophetess and co-founder of Prague, foretold the future glory of the city spreading out below the hill. The site's legendary tradition also includes tales of Přemysl the Ploughman and of Horymír, whose horse Šemík is said to have saved his master by leaping from the Vyšehrad ramparts straight into the Vltava. The stronghold's present baroque shape — its massive gates and earthworks — dates from the rebuilding that followed the Battle of White Mountain, when Vyšehrad was turned into a purely military fortress.

What can you see inside Vyšehrad today?

The oldest surviving structure on the hill, and one of the oldest in all of Prague, is the Romanesque Rotunda of St Martin, built in the last third of the 11th century. The dominant landmark of the whole complex is the neo-Gothic Basilica of St Peter and Paul, recognisable by its twin towers — one of the most familiar silhouettes in the Prague skyline, visible from many points across the city. In the park section of Vyšehrad, between 1948 and 1970, monumental statues by sculptor Josef Václav Myslbek were installed, depicting figures from Czech myths and legends: Lumír and Song, Záboj and Slavoj, and Ctirad and Šárka.

Why is the Vyšehrad cemetery so significant?

Next to the basilica lies Vyšehrad Cemetery together with the Slavín tomb — the national burial ground of the Czech nation's most distinguished figures. The cemetery in its current form was established at the initiative of provost Václav Štulc in the 1870s, on the site of an older cemetery dating back to 1660, and it has kept its present appearance since 1869. Slavín itself, designed by architect Antonín Wiehl, was built between 1889 and 1893 as a shared tomb for people who served the nation; 56 people are buried within it. Vyšehrad Cemetery as a whole holds the graves of more than 600 Czech writers, scientists, poets, artists, actors and politicians, and among its most famous names are composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana.

What else draws visitors to Vyšehrad?

Beyond its churches and cemetery, Vyšehrad is prized above all for its views — the baroque ramparts and bastions offer one of the finest panoramas of Prague and the Vltava's bend, and they draw far smaller crowds than the lookout points around Prague Castle.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vyšehrad the same place as the Hungarian town of Visegrád? No — they are entirely different places. The Czech name is sometimes confused with the similarly named Hungarian town of Visegrád near Budapest, but the site described here is the Vyšehrad fortress in Prague.

What is the oldest building at Vyšehrad? The Romanesque Rotunda of St Martin, built in the late 11th century — the oldest surviving building anywhere in Prague.

Who is buried at Vyšehrad Cemetery? More than 600 distinguished Czechs, including composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana, who rest in the Slavín tomb.

What legend is Vyšehrad associated with? Princess Libuše, who is said to have prophesied Prague's future glory from this hill, along with the legends of Přemysl the Ploughman and of Horymír and his horse Šemík.