Petrin Hill

The Petrin Hill once marked the frontier of a large forest. During the Middle Ages, parts of the woods were replaced with gardens and orchards. Today you can still find a large number of fruit trees here and a large part of the hill acts as a green lung now surrounded by the encroaching city. Winding paths lead from Lesser Town to the top of the hill.

In 1891 the General Land Centennial Exhibition was held in Prague, at a site just north of the city. One of its attractions was a one quarter scale imitation of the Eiffel Tower, which was built just two years earlier for another exhibition in Paris. In 1930, the lookout tower was moved to its current location on the Petrin Hill, after which it became known as the Petrin Tower. The only way to reach the top is by climbing the 299 stairs. Your effort will be rewarded with a great panoramic view over the city of Prague.

The Petrin Tower marks the terminus of the funicular, another remnant from the Centennial Exhibition. The funicular starts at the foot of the hill and makes a stop halfway at a restaurant. From there you have a nice view on the Prague Castle and Old Town.

There's one more attraction from the 1891 exhibition on the Petrin Hill: a mirror maze, which is very popular with children. The maze is housed in a mock medieval building, constructed in a gothic design after the Spicka gate, a former gate of the Vysehrad Castle.

Behind the maze lie the remains of the Hunger Wall, a long defensive wall built between 1360 and 1362 by Charles IV. The king launched the project to create jobs and avoid famine at a time when many people were out of jobs, hence the name of the wall. Of the original wall, about 1200 meter is still intact.

Prague's observatory is also located on the Petrin Hill. The observatory is open to the public giving amateur astronomers a chance to use the powerful telescopes. There's also a display of some historic astronomical instruments.

The orchards on the Petrin Hill lead to the Strahov Monastery, a medieval complex with mostly Baroque buildings. Inside are some magnificent 17th and 18th century halls, decorated with marvelous frescoes. The baroque interior of the Strahov Church is also worth a visit.