Petřín

From Prague-wiki

Petřín is a 327 metres high hill in the west part of the centre of Prague. It rises some 130 m above the left bank of the Vltava River. For a long time, it was the highest location in the city (inside the city walls). The hill, almost entirely covered with parks, is a favourite recreational area for the inhabitants of Prague. Covered with forests, orchards and strolling lovers, Petřín Hill creates a soft counterpoint to the spires of Hradčany.

Early chronicles say it was the site of pagan rituals to the god Perun, but Duke Boleslav II built a small church atop the hill. A vineyard was created on the slopes of Petřín in the 15th century, but has been a public park since 1825. Some parts of the hill were in the past divided into several gardens, belonging to palaces and monasteries, but today almost all of Petřín is open to public.

Contents 1 Points of interest 1.1 Petřín Lookout Tower 1.2 Mirror Maze 1.3 Cathedral of Saint Lawrence 1.4 Petřín Funicular 1.5 Hunger Wall 1.6 Petřín Rose Gardens 1.7 Way of the Cross on Petřín 1.8 Church of Saint Michael 1.9 Karel Hynek Mácha Statue 1.10 Strahov Stadium 1.11 Strahov Monastery

[edit] Points of interest

	[edit] Petřín Lookout Tower Modelled after the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Petřín Lookout Tower stands only one-quarter as high as its inspiration, at 63.5 metres. It was created for the Jubilee Exhibition of 1891. A climb of 299 stairs leads to the viewing platform.
	[edit] Mirror Maze House of mirrors located in a replica of a medieval city gate. After laughing at the distorting mirrors in the labyrinth, take in a bit of history with a diorama depicting the final battle of the Thirty Years’ War on Charles Bridge.
	[edit] Cathedral of Saint Lawrence Built on a pagan shrine in the 10th century by Duke Boleslav II, the church was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century. Now it serves as a cathedral for the Old Catholic Church.
	[edit] Petřín Funicular The summit of the hill is linked to Prague's Malá Strana district by the Petřín funicular, a funicular railway that first operated in 1891. The cable car offers outstanding views of the Prague Castle to the north.
	[edit] Hunger Wall The 14th-century wall was originally part of the city’s southern fortifications. Emperor Charles IV is said to have ordered its construction as a public works project to feed the poor during a famine.
	[edit] Petřín Rose Gardens At the top of the hill, catch your breath in the extensive rose gardens. Outside the nearby observatory is a memorial to Czech airmen who served during World War II.
	[edit] Way of the Cross on Petřín The Way of the Cross on Petřín is formed by fourteen Stations of the Cross and was built between 1834 and 1838.
	[edit] Church of Saint Michael Lovely wooden church, transferred to Prague from Subcarpathian Ruthenia, when the valley where it stood was flooded by a dammed river. No longer used for services.
	[edit] Karel Hynek Mácha Statue Mácha is a national poet, best loved for his Romantic poem “May”. On 1 May, young lovers lay flowers at his statue’s feet.
	[edit] Strahov Stadium Strahov Stadium is the largest arena of its kind in the world. It was built for Sokol, a physical culture organisation, and used for gymnastic rallies. Now it is used as a soccer trainning ground and occasionally a rock concert venue.
	[edit] Strahov Monastery Not located on the Petřín hill itself, but rather on a place where it connects to Hradčany. Founded in 1140, Strahov houses the nation’s oldest books in the National Literature Museum while still functioning as a monastery. The Theological Hall, with its frescoes and statue of St John, is a must-see.