Vyšehrad (also spelled Wyschehrad , German: Prager Hochburg , English: "upper castle") is a historic fort in Prague , Czech Republic , just over 3 km southeast of Prague Castle , on the east bank of the Vltava River . It was probably built in the 10th century. Inside the fort are the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul and the Vyšehrad Cemetery , containing the remains of many famous Czechs, such as Antonín Dvořák , Bedřich Smetana , Karel Čapek , and Alphonse Mucha . It also contains Prague's oldest Rotunda of St. Martin, from the 11th century.
17-511: Local legend holds that Vyšehrad was the location of the first settlement which later became Prague, though thus far this claim remains unsubstantiated. Legend has it that Duke Krok founded Vyšehrad while looking for a safer seat than in Budeč . On a steep rock above the Vltava river, he ordered a forest to be cut down and a castle built there. Also according to legend, Prince Křesomysl imprisoned
34-548: A Liboczan ; late 15th century – 18 March 1553) was a Bohemian chronicler . He was author of famous Bohemian Chronicle (1541), also called the Hájek's Chronicle . This work served as the main source of Czech historical and national consciousness until the end of the 18th century, when numerous errors and fabrications contained in it were recognized. A scion of a noble family based in Libočany near Žatec , western Bohemia , Hajek
51-517: A dean of Karlštejn Castle and a priest in Tetín . In May 1533, he was appointed royal administrator of the Vyšehrad Chapter . Hájek reached the peak of ecclesiastical career when he became provost of Stará Boleslav Chapter, however, he fell from grace shortly afterwards and retired to Prague . His famous Bohemian Chronicle ( Kronika česká in original), written in old humanistic Czech , cover
68-554: A mistaken interpretation by Cosmas. According to postulation by Vladimír Karbusický , Cosmas likely contrived them when trying to read a lost Latin transcription of an old-Slavonic message. When the ancestral names are combined and reassessed, they can roughly cohere an assumed text: " Krok‘ kazi tetha lubossa premisl nezamisl mna ta voj‘n ni zla kr‘z mis neklan gosti vit... " In modern English, this may translate to: " Halt your steps, Tetha, and rather think, I do not intend war or evil upon you, we do not bow to
85-750: A renovation in the 17th century, when the Habsburg monarchy took over the Czech lands after the Thirty Years' War and remodeled it in 1654 as a Baroque fortress, turning it into a training center for the Austrian Army , and later incorporating it into the Baroque city walls. The present form of Vyšehrad as a fortified residence, with powerful brick ramparts, bastions, and the Tábor and Leopold gates,
102-586: A royal seat. Later the whole complex was renewed by Charles IV and new fortifications, with two gates and a royal palace were built, while the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul awaited repair. At the beginning of the Hussite Wars , the Hussites conquered and ransacked Vyšehrad in 1420. The troops of King George of Poděbrady did the same in 1448. The castle was then abandoned and became ruined. It underwent
119-425: A time, however, they fell into injustice and envy. And, according to Cosmas, the people had "neither the judge nor the prince". So, Krok rose amongst the people; he was described by Cosmas as "a man known for his age, absolutely perfect, rich and worldly in his judgements, and sophisticated. This wonderful man had no male heirs, but rather three daughters, whom nature had granted the treasures of wisdom". However, this
136-687: Is a legendary figure in Czech history, being the first judge, or duke, of the Czech people. He was also the father of Princess Libuše and her sisters Kazi and Teta. Perhaps the earliest mention of the Duke (as "Crocco") is in the Chronica Boëmorum , which was originally written in Latin. Cosmas describes the manner of the first inhabitants of Bohemia, who at first lived very simply and did not know alcohol, marriages, private property or weapons. After
153-606: Is a result of Baroque remodeling. The Cihelná brána (Brick gate) is an Empire-style structure, dating from 1841. The main part of the Špička Gate, parts of the Romanesque bridge, and the ruined Gothic lookout tower known as Libušina lázeň (Libuše's Bath) are the only fragments that have been preserved from the Middle Ages . The Romanesque rotunda of St. Martin dates from the second half of the 11th century. The 11th century Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, which dominates Vyšehrad,
170-473: Is the last Cosmas says of Krok, except to describe his daughters and their own exploits. Later chroniclers would expand upon this, for example, Václav Hájek of Libočany , who writes about the death of Forefather Čech . He writes that when Čech died he tried to pass the leading of the Czech people to his brother Lech, who refused, and recommended Krok in his place. He also wrote that Krok transferred his seat to Vyšehrad in 683 . František Palacký argued that
187-467: The history of the Czech lands from the legendary early medieval rulers Lech, Czech, and Rus up to the coronation of King Ferdinand I in 1526. It was translated into German by Johann Sandel (1596), and later extensively studied by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832). Long considered one of the best sources of Czech history, modern criticism has found it to be quite inaccurate, although still useful for information about Czech literature traditions of
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#1732772659262204-571: The cross, we welcome guests ..." The alleged message is speculated to be from the Czech princes to the Franks , perhaps in relation to the Battle of Zásek c. 849 described in the Annales Fuldenses . Wenceslaus Hajek Wenceslaus Hájek of Libočany ( Czech : Václav Hájek z Libočan , German : Wenzeslaus Hagek von Libotschan , Latin : Wenceslaus Hagecius, Wenceslaus Hagek
221-524: The figure of Krok was influenced by the ruler Sámo ; however, other authors, eager to prove a supposed Celtic origin of the Czech people, have been quick to say that the name Krok may have arisen from the Celtic name Crocco. Other theorists suggest a connection with Krakus (Krak), a mythical Polish prince and the presumed founder of Kraków . Another theory suggests the names of the Přemysl ancestors arose from
238-527: The knight Horymír at Vyšehrad because he damaged silver mines, and Horymír jumped with his horse Šemík over the walls and from Libuše's bath into the river. When the Přemyslid dynasty settled on the current site of Prague Castle , the two castles maintained opposing spheres of influence for approximately two centuries. The zenith of Vyšehrad was during the second half of the 11th century, when Vratislav II transferred his seat from Prague Castle to Vyšehrad, and
255-462: The original fort was remodeled as a complex comprising the sovereign's palatial residence, a church, and the seat of the chapter. The period of growth ended around 1140 when Prince Soběslav moved his seat back to Prague Castle. When Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV began to build the Prague Castle in its current dimensions in the early 14th century, the deteriorating Vyšehrad was abandoned as
272-766: Was ordained priest of the Kostelec parish near Budyně nad Ohří in 1520. One year later, he became a chaplain in Zlonice . Hajek initially was a member of the Bohemian Unity of the Brethren but later converted to Catholicism (a significantly minority religion in otherwise Protestant Bohemia at that time). In 1524 he served as a preacher at the St. Thomas' Church in Prague quarter Malá Strana (Lesser Town); from 1527 as
289-464: Was remodeled in the second half of the 14th century and again in 1885 and 1887 in neo-Gothic style. Vyšehrad and the area around it became part of the capital city in 1883. The area is one of the cadastral districts of the city. By the twenty-first century, Vyšehrad has become a public park that is a popular site for recreation and celebrations. For example, it is a popular place for Czechs to celebrate New Year's Eve . Duke Krok Duke Krok
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