Vitkov

By Jennifer Page

Situated in the seemingly far off neighborhood of Zizkov in Prague 3, Vitkov is a park and monument to the Battle of Vitkov.  Although the park is ordinary, the increasingly panoramic red-roofed view of the city’s center and the TV Tower is worth the trip and uphill walk that awaits you.  The tram ride itself is interesting, as you begin to leave the touristy, English-speaking parts of Prague and enter a purely Czech neighborhood.  There are cafes and restaurants worth checking out at the bottom of the hill because you will definitely need some fuel after the walk.  Bring a map, as many people don’t speak English, but can point to the streets you need to take if you get lost.  “The monument commemorates Jan Zizka and his loyal Hussite army that in 1420, miraculously defeated the much larger Bohemian King and Roman Emperor Sigismund. The Zizka monument at the top of the hill has sporadic guided tours and the statue of Zizka himself is the largest equestrian statue of its kind. The building was used by the Nazis and Communists and today is in a legal dispute about the use of it.”  Go to Vitkov, if not for the monument, at least for the experience of being in a Czech neighborhood and seeing a view of the city that is easy to get to and worth the trip. Historical information found in the Rough Guides Prague Directions guidebook by Rob Humphreys.