Petřín Hill

A towering hill on the left bank of the Vltava River, with a unique miniature Eiffel Tower? That is Petřín. Especially on the first of May, this place is almost the pilgrimage destination for all lovers. Couples are drawn there by the statue of the romantic poet Karel Hynek Mácha, but also by the numerous gardens, orchards and hidden corners, which are just the recipe for fleeting kisses between lovers.

Petřín can boast a tremendous amount of historical and artistic gems. One of the most visible is the above mentioned Petřín observation tower. On a really clear day, it is apparently possible to see as far as Sněžka, the highest mountain in the Czech Republic.

Viewing Petřín from a distance, you may catch a glimpse of a light shinning from a vertical building between the trees – it is the Hungry Wall, which was built during the time of Charles IV, to defend the Lesser Town. You do not have to worry, however, that the Hungry Wall might swallow you in an unguarded moment. The name derives from a legend that during its construction, the sovereign employed the poor to protect it from famine.

The Petřín Hill is an interwoven network of parks and gardens, which are connected to each other in such a way that they can keep you wandering around endlessly. Let us list at least a few of these: the Kinský Garden, the Rose Garden the Kvetnice Garden, the Lobkowicz Garden, Schönborn Garden, the Seminary Garden, Strahov Garden and others. These gardens contain many sculptures, wells, shrines, churches, summerhouses, mirror mazes, an observatory and the Strahov Monastery.

Simply put, Petřín is a beautiful place for relaxation, recreation and refreshment.

If you want to avoid the climb to Petřín, you can take the cableway from Újezd. About half way into the trip up, you can make use of the stop-over to get refreshments at the Nebozízek restaurant.