Prague's Vyšehrad offers some relaxing sightseeing away from the gridlocked crowds

The word of the year, at least for Prague and
major cities in Europe, is “overtourism.” A combination of
discount flights, shared-accommodation apps and online must-see lists
has led the main sights to be so crowded that it is virtually
impossible to see anything.

But places just slightly off the beaten track have
very few tourists and often lots to see and do. Top on the list of
unjustly ignored places to bring visiting friends, or just go and see
by yourself in peace, is Vyšehrad, the higher castle. It is easily
reachable from the C-line metro station of the same name.

The
high brick walls from when Vyšehrad was a fortified military post
now provide lovely photo vantage points looking at bridges across the
Vltava river with Prague Castle in the background.

There
are several green fields for relaxing and numerous eateries offering
everything from ice cream and chips to sit-down meals, at prices
lower than in the more touristed center. The spaces are open enough
that it is easy to sit with friends for a picnic.

The
popular Hospůdka Na Hradbách, located along the defensive walls
behind the Leopold Gate, has an outdoor beer garden with Balkan food
on the grill. A little more upscale is Cafe Citadela, located next to
a small vineyard closer to the Vltava. Small snack bars also dot the
area.

On
the stone cliff leading down toward the river are some evocative
ruins called Libuše’s Bath, but actually they are much more
recent.

Heading
down this path, past a small chapel. eventually takes you to the
Brick Gate. From April to October you can get inside the fortress’
walls from 9:30 am to 5 pm. (From November to March the last tour is
at 4 pm.)

When you exit the Gorlice, you can head toward the large Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul, unmissable due to its huge spires. But before you get there, you will pass an odd stone column broken into three pieces.

This is called the Devil’s Column, and there is a tale that a demon named Zardan threw the pieces in the ground after losing a bet with a local priest. A mural in the basilica depicts the legend.

Keys to get in can be borrowed from the Parish Office at K Rotundě 100/10 from 10 am to 3 pm. Instructions, in Czech with a little English, are on the site’s door, and the office can me reached in advance by email at info@kkvys.cz.

The
field to the left side of the church has four very large statues.
These depict four pairs of legendary figures, including Princess
Libuše and her husband, Přemysl. They originally stood at the
Palacký Bridge and were moved during World War II.

The
neo-Gothic Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul itself was built between
1887 and 1903, making it relatively modern compared to other Prague
churches.

Still,
the church has some items of interest. In one of the niches near main
the entrance in a glass and gold case is a shoulder bone allegedly
from St Valentine, the person remembered on Valentine’s Day.

Also
near the entrance but on the other side is the stone coffin of St
Longinus, who according to Christian tradition was present at the
Crucifixion. The lid and bones were lost hundreds of years ago,
perhaps during the Hussite Wars.

A
long-standing tradition is that burning a candle in front of the
painting will ensure a healthy baby, and young women can still often
be seen praying by the painting.

There
is also a treasury room with religious clothing, chalices and other
valuable objects.

There are also some things to see outside the fortress. If you come from the Vyšehrad metro stop on the C line, there is a tree planted in 1987 to promote the artificial language Esperanto, with a stone that has an inscription in that language.

There is also a sculpture with a glass pyramid on a metal base called Pyramid 04, by modern artist Marián Karel.

Heading
a little closer to Vyšehrad, hidden in a parking lot behind the
Holiday Inn, is a communist-era bronze sculpture of a mother and
daughter in rather sheer outfits. It comes from the era of
Normalization, when every public construction project had to include
a piece of art.

Going
down from Vyšehrad by the hard-to-find steps behind the wall just
opposite the entrance to Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul, you will
encounter some of Prague’s Cubist houses. Three are together on the
waterfront on Rašínovo nábřeží 42/6, 47/8 and 71/10. Another is
at Libušina 49/3.

Exiting
from the Brick Gate, you will find two more Cubist buildings on
Neklanova 98/30 and Neklanova 56/2. All of them are the work of
architect Josef Chochol except for Neklanova 56/2, which is by
Antonín Belada. They were built between 1912 and ’14.

A bit far from the fortress’s exits but still part of the greater Vyšehrad neighborhood is the Vyšehrad-Praha train station (Nádraží Praha-Vyšehrad) at Svobodova 86/2. The abandoned Art Nouveau building, built in 1872 and closed in 1960, is in very poor technical condition.

It has been listed as cultural heritage since 2001, and was sold to private company in 2007, but never reopened.