Petřín Hill (Peter’s Hill) - tip for your trip

Whether visiting Prague with or without children, here is a light-hearted tip for a visit whilst you are here.

Petřín Hill (Peter’s Hill) is not the highest hill in Prague but is located in its very heart – next to Prague Castle, above the Vltava river. On top of the hill there is a tower that might remind you of something you have seen somewhere else hellip; Yes, it is a copy of the famous Eifel Tower! But this tip is not to take you up the Little Eifel Tower but to a Labyrinth that is located just a few meters away.

The Labyrinth was built in 1891 by Arch. Wiehl. Originally it was located at the Holešovice Exhibition Centre but two years later it was moved to Petřín Hill, and was a copy of the Gothic gate at Vyšehrad built in the 14th century by Charles IV.

As you enter the Labyrinth you can see a scene from Charles Bridge in 1648: the Swedes were advancing onto the bridge when they were met by the citizens of Prague who were defending one of the towers on the bridge. The picture is unusual, being made up of figurines of soldiers and it covers 80m2! The picture was painted in 50 days by Vojtěch Bartoněk and Karel Štapfer.

Now you are probably asking – why would our children be interested in seeing a picture depicting a battle? Well, in the other rooms there is a mirror labyrinth. It was inspired by a similar one in Wiena. The mirrors were installed in 1911, of varying shapes. As you look into the 45 mirror images they reveal fat, tall, slim, small and other shapes. Now you see why children love to come here?

The Labyrinth is open every weekend from 10.00 to 17.00 (Jan, March), 10.00 to 19.00 (April), 10.00 to 22.00 (May to August), 10.00 to 19.00 (Sept), 10.00 to 18.00 (Oct), 10.00 to 17.00 (Nov, Dec).

Entrance fee 50,- CZK, children 40,- CZK.

January, 2007

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