Vyšehradské sady Park

Welcome to the Vyšehrad orchards. You have just entered the space which is one of the most picturesque and peaceful corners of Prague's Vyšehrad. You are standing in a place where the history of our nation meets the calm of the green oasis. Look around you and feel this atmosphere. Above you are the majestic walls and historic buildings, which are dominated by the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, which with its shapes resembles the eternity of this place. If you look now towards the horizon, you will see a beautiful, vast view of the western part of Prague. It is a view that will allow you to exhale for a moment and observe the city from the perspective only the chosen visitors of this place have.

But to understand why this place looks like this, we need to go back deep into the past together. Imagine that the place where you are now walking between trees and flowers had a completely different face a few centuries ago. In the 15th century, this area was used for something completely different than rest. Back then, people here grew large vineyards. Imagine the hills covered with grapes and the scent of ripe fruits that were floating in the south part of Vyšehrad. This land was devoted to agriculture for centuries before its fate changed. It was only in the nineteenth century that this area began to turn into the space we know today - a public park designed for the joy and relaxation of the people. The architect Josef Mocker, who prepared the plans that enabled us to enjoy this space in its today's harmonious form, was responsible for this transformation and for having the park structure so well thought out.

But now pay attention to what is the real dominance and soul of this park. If you look around you, you'll encounter monumental statues that carry immense strength and emotion. They are sculptures created by legendary sculptor Josef Václav Mysbek. But these statues are not the original inhabitants of this park as it might seem. Their journey here was full of dramatic twists. In one-eighty-one Mysbek won a prestigious competition to decorate the Palacky Bridge and in one-eighty-seven to one-eighty-nine ten years he gradually planted these statues on the bridge. They were works to decorate the city and its transport arteries before fate turned them here to the walls of Vyšehrad.

Now let's focus on what these statues really represent. They're not just stone shapes, they're characters that form the very foundations of our legends and national awareness. If you look at them, try to perceive their attitude, their face and the story they carry. You will see figures like Libushi and Přemysla whose names are a symbol of beginnings for us. Note also figures like Ctirad and Šárka whose fate is confused with courage and tragedy. In these sculptures you can also see figures named Lumír, Píseň, Záboj or Slavoj. Each of these characters bears its own character, which Mysbek could imprint into stone with incredible sensitivity. It's fascinating to see how a sculptor could capture human emotions and heroism in such permanent material.

And right here is one of the most interesting and tragic mysteries of this place. Maybe someone will ask you why these statues are right here, in the calm of the park, and not on the bridge for which they were originally intended. The answer lies in the dark days of the year a thousand nine hundred forty-five. During the devastating bombing, there was serious damage to the Palacky Bridge. It was this destruction that decided that the statues had to leave their original place. In the year one thousand nine hundred forty seven were subsequently moved here to Vyšehrad orchards to be saved and protected.

If you look very carefully at the sculpture Libuše and Přemysla, you may notice something special. Maybe you feel he's different from other characters. It's because this sculpture was the most damaged. Due to the damage suffered in the bombing, today you can't see the original work, but his carved copy. This copy serves as a living reminder of how fragile beauty can be and how powerful the destructive forces of history can be. It is a fascinating contrast between the eternity of myths and the fleeting of the human world.

Now that you know the stories of these stone heroes and know what a difficult fate this place has passed, put your thoughts aside for a while and just enjoy the atmosphere. Let the peace that Vyšehrad offers consume you. Walk further through the trees, perceive the smell of green and admire the views that are constantly opening up to you. Every road in this park can lead you to a new detail, a new character or a new view of the historic city. We wish you a nice walk and other pleasant moments in the heart of history.