Vyšehrad Citadel

The main entrance to this citadel is through the Tábor Gate (Táborská brána) at the southeastern end. On the other side of the brick ramparts and ditch are the scant remnants of the Gothic Peak Gate (Špička brána), a fragment of arch that is now part of the information office – all that remains of Charles IV’s 14th-century fortifications. Beyond that lies the grand, 17th-century Leopold Gate (Leopoldova brána), the most elegant of the fortress gates. It’s possible to walk around most of the battlements, with grand views over the river and city. Beside the southwestern bastion are the foundations of a small royal palace built by Charles IV but dismantled in 1655. Perched on the bastion itself is the Vyšehrad Gallery (galérie Vyšehrad; admission 10Kč; same as information office), which holds temporary exhibitions. Below the bastion are some ruined guard towers poetically named Libuše’s Bath. You can also examine the foundations of the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of St Lawrence (bazilika sv Vavřince; admission 5Kč; 11am-5pm Mon-Fri, 11.30am-4pm Sat & Sun). Ask for the key at the snack bar next door. South of the Church of Sts Peter & Paul lie the Vyšehrad Gardens (Vyšehradské sady), with four imposing statues by Josef Myslbek based on Czech legends. Prague’s founders Libuše and Přemysl are in the northwestern corner; in the southeast are Šárka and Ctirad. On Sundays in May, June and August, open-air concerts are held here at 2.30pm, with anything from jazz to oompah bands to chamber music. In the northwestern corner is the former New Provost’s House (Nové proboštství), built in 1874. In the adjacent park, Štulcovy sady, there is an open-air Summer Theatre (Letní scéna) where you can catch a concert or cultural show at 6pm on most Thursdays or the odd children’s performance on Tuesday afternoon (usually around 2pm). The information centre sells a map and guide to Vyšehrad’s buildings in English, German, French and Italian.