Vyšehrad, Prague

Vyšehrad is a fortification on a hill located south of Nové Mesto in Prague. The walk on these lands is worth it first for the spectacular panorama of the Vltava and the rest of the city, and then for the nice park and the cemetery next to the church of Sv. Peter and Paul. The relics of famous personalities such as Josef Bitsan, Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák, Alfons Mucha, Josef Moker, Milada Horaková, Karel Čapek and Svatopluk Čech are laid to rest there.

There is almost no one who does not share the opinion that one of the most beautiful and magnetic places is the Vyšehrad Hill. Seen from its heights, the Czech capital looks more alive at night than under the sun's rays by day.

Vyšehrad is a sacred place for the locals, as it has managed to survive many battles throughout the ages, victories and defeats, greatness and downfalls. In Vyšehrad is the last home of some of the most famous sons of this land - Dvorak, Smetana, Fly - this is the Slavin Cemetery.

There is a rather interesting legend surrounding the history of Vyšehrad. A mythical princess named Libushe, daughter of a fairy king, married a simple ploughman to become the leader of her people, as the clan would not allow a woman to head the kingdom. Libushe was the cleverest and had supernatural abilities. Because of her gifts, she foretold that a great and shining city would arise from the place now called Vyšehrad. The predictions proved to be true - Libuše laid the foundations of the dynasty of the Czech kings, who erected Prague with all its magical charm.

There is a rather interesting monument in Vyšehrad, broken into three pieces and called the Devil's Pillar. According to another story, the Devil himself once made a bet with a priest from the church in the fortress that he would bring this pillar from Rome before he uttered the word "flesh". The devil did not succeed, and in his anger sent the stone through the roof of the cathedral of Ss. Ss. Peter and Paul, which for many years stood pierced, and the pillar broke in three. The cathedral has been reconstructed to its present neo-Gothic style. It holds the relics of King Vratislav, who built it in the 11th century, resting in peace here alongside his successors Sobielaw I and Sobielaw II. On the tympanum above the entrance to the cathedral is a depiction of the Last Judgement and Jesus coming from Heaven enveloped in glory, surrounded by 13 apostles.

Whether it is a legend or not is unknown, but according to another the pillar seems to belong to a very ancient civilization that inhabited the site. Experts say it may have been a sundial or part of an ancient observatory.