Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Vy√ehrad
The former
fortress of Vy√ehrad
(see p121)
is steeped
in legend. Bed∫ich
Smetana paid tribute
to the second seat of
the P∫emyslid dynasty
that resided here in
the 10th century in his
opera
Libu√e
and in
his rousing patriotic
work
Má vlast (see
p45)
. The composer is
buried here in the National
Cemetery, as are many other
luminaries of Czech culture.
d
Map B6
Vinohrady
St Ludmila and the Art Nouveau
Vinohrady Theatre. For a little bit
of peace and greenery away
from the city, visit the botanical
gardens.
d
Map B6
Smíchov
Today, modern shopping
centres and multiplex cinemas
have taken over what used to
be the city's main industrial
centre. At the heart of the
district is And∂l metro station,
which still bears traces of its
Communist origins - the station
was originally named “Moscow”
and was decorated with Soviet
murals
(see p49)
.
d
Map A6
Hole√ovice
Developers are helping this
former warehouse district make
a comeback. It's home to the
National Gallery's Veletr≈ní
Palace
(see pp26-7)
, and motor
car fans will love the National
Technical Museum, with its
exhibits of Czech interwar
vehicles such as
◊
kodas.
d
Map
B5 • National Technical Museum: Kostelní;
Open 9am-5pm Tue-Sun; Adm
Vinohrady
Originally the royal vine-
yards, Vinohrady today is a
gently rolling residential
neighbourhood. The central
square, Nám∂stí Míru, features
the Neo-Gothic Church of
Letná Park
A grand staircase leads from
the Vltava riverbank opposite the
Josefov quarter
(see pp98-103)
to an unexpected giant
metronome. The needle marks
time where a mammoth
statue of Joseph Stalin
once stood before it was
demolished in the 1960s
(see p48)
. The surrounding
park echoes with the
clatter of skateboards and
barking dogs. Travelling
circuses sometimes set up
in the open fields, but
Letná's popular beer
garden is probably its
biggest draw.
d
Map E1
Letná Park
115
