Vysehrad National Cultural Monument

Located atop a hill on the eastern bank of the Vltava River, Vysehrad National Cultural Monument is believed to be the location of the first settlement in the region that later became Prague. Located nearly 3 km southeast of Prague Castle, the earliest fortifications originated around the 10th century. The most important place of interest within the complex is the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul. Vysehrad Cemetery is also notable, where lay the remains of several renowned Czech artists and musicians. There are also a number of statues inside the complex pertaining to historical events as well as lores and legends.

Currently, there are two guided tours provided at Vysehrad National Cultural Monument. The ‘Casemates and the Gorlice Hall’ guided tour, offered in Czech, English, German, Russian, Japanese, and several other languages, takes one through the underground corridors of the monument. The main attraction is the largest sublevel chamber named Gorlice Hall, which houses six original sculptural groups from the Charles Bridge. The ‘Faces of Vysehrad’ guided tour includes visits to the Church of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist and the ruins of Basilica of St. Lawrence, along with learning about the history of the Ducal and Royal Acropolis and the Spicka Gate. This tour is provided only in the Czech language.