The Petřín Tower is the most Parisian landmark in Prague. Petrin Lookout Tower (Petřínská Rozhledna) Petrin Tower in Prague: description

The initiative to create the Petrin Tower in Prague belongs to the Czech Tourists Club. It consists of metal structures and weighs almost 175 tons. It was created by Czech designers Julius Soucek and Frantisek Prasil.

Construction of the tower took only five months, despite the fact that its original height reached 60 m. In 1953, another 20 m was added to the height of the Petrin Tower, since the first relay television station in the Czech Republic was installed on its top.

Technical specifications

• Height 65.5 meters
• The base is located at an altitude of 324 meters above sea level.
• Two observation platforms, the upper one is at an altitude of 55 meters.

On the underground level of the tower there is a small museum of Yara Cimrman, a famous literary character, and on the ground floor there is a small cafe and a souvenir shop.

Externally, the Petrin Tower is very reminiscent of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. The observation deck, located at an altitude of 55 m, can be reached by elevator or on foot, using a staircase of 299 steps. Don’t worry about the climb; it will take you no more than 10 minutes and will bring you great pleasure. Equipped seating will allow you to take a short rest. The tower has two floors (tiers), on the first tier you can also take a break. Going down won't take much effort.

observation tower

Opening hours

• October - March 10:00 - 20:00
• November - February 10:00 - 18:00
• April - September 10:00 - 22:00

Photos from the observation deck of the Petřín Tower

Greetings, friends! I have long promised to talk about the Petřín observation tower in Prague. I have already described the walk in the gardens growing on the slopes of Petřín Hill, as well as the sights at the top of the hill in some detail. It’s time to talk about the main object of Petrin - what kind of tower rises on a hill almost in the center of Prague, when and why it appeared there, and how to climb to its observation deck.

The Petrin Tower cannot go unnoticed, despite the numerous architectural attractions of Prague. And from the Charles Bridge, and from, and from, the openwork metal tower is clearly visible:

As soon as the eye stops at this Petrin structure, many draw a parallel with the French Eiffel Tower. Questions naturally arise, what kind of tower is this and whether it is possible to climb it. I will answer all such questions:

1. How the Petřín Tower appeared in Prague
2. How to get to Petrin Tower
3. Visit to the tower with a climb to the observation deck

How the Petřín Tower appeared in Prague

The initiators of the construction of the Petrin Tower were... tourists. Representatives of the Czech Tourists Club proposed building an observation tower for the Zemsky Jubilee Exhibition, which was planned in Prague in 1891. They liked Eiffel's idea to design a tower for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. But, since Prague is located on a hilly area, they decided to make the tower smaller and install it on a hill.

The architectural design of the Petrin Tower was created by Vratislav Pasovsky. Engineers František Prašil and Julis Soucek became the direct executors of the project, which they implemented within six months. The Petřín Tower was constructed from March to August 1891, and on August 20 the tower was opened to the public.

175 tons of metal were required for this structure:

The modern tower differs from the original design in that now its uppermost part is the antenna, while previously the tower was completed by a crown with a flagpole. The antenna was installed in 1953, when the tower began to be used for television broadcasts.

The tower has two observation platforms. The first covered gallery is at a height of 20 m and is suitable for lifting wheelchairs. The second gallery is much smaller in area and is located at an altitude of 55 m. It can be reached either by steps or by elevator.

How to get to Petrin Tower

The fastest way to get to the top of Petrin Hill is to take the funicular. I reported where the funicular station is and how payment is organized there. I will also add that the ticket can be purchased at the station ticket office, and its cost is the same as for one trip by other types of public transport in Prague - 24 crowns.

If you decide to go up by cable car, you definitely need to get to the top of the hill. The funicular stops approximately halfway, but there is no point in getting off at the first stop. It’s just that there are playgrounds in Petrin Gardens, and this stop is organized for the convenience of those who want to spend time on the playgrounds.

In my opinion, it is much more interesting, and even more useful, to climb Petrin Hill on foot. The paths there are comfortable, the views are excellent, and the climb is not tiring.

Although, if you enter from the Strahov Monastery and Loretan Street, you will have to walk up numerous steps:

So, you walk through the Petrin Gardens and gradually climb to the top of the hill. You will soon reach an impressive wall called the Hungry Wall (you will see it several times in the photographs below).

You won't have to storm the wall, since there is an arch in it)) Just walk along the wall and you will see it. And behind the wall you will find wonderful rose gardens and attractions of Petřín:

Take a stroll along these alleys, keeping the observation tower in sight as a guide. So you will come to another arch in the wall, behind which the main object awaits you:

That's all - you have reached the Petrin Tower, from which you will see the whole of Prague. Of course, it is best to plan to visit the tower on a clear day.

Visit to the tower with a climb to the observation deck

I climbed the Petrin Tower in Prague twice. The first time this happened was about ten years ago, and at that time the pedestrian ascent was free, and only those who decided to use the elevator paid for the visit. But a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and now a visit to the Petrin Tower is paid for in any case.

I will inform you about ticket prices in 2015:

– ticket for an adult – 120 CZK,

– children – 65 CZK.

Keep in mind that this is the cost of walking up the tower. You have to climb 299 steps to get to the upper gallery. I assure you, you will get several advantages in doing so. The fact that walking on steps is useful is understandable. Walking along the renovated wooden steps of the tower is convenient, especially since there are separate stairs for ascent and descent of visitors, as well as benches for rest.

And the main advantage is that the tower body is not glazed, unlike the galleries. Therefore, you will take the best photos during the pedestrian conquest of the Petrin Tower.

But this will be a little later, but first of all, you need to enter a small room built into the base of the tower and purchase tickets:

The octagonal base of the tower occupies an area of ​​20 m in diameter, so there was room for both ticket offices and a small museum on the ground floor.

Having received the ticket, we slowly climb up, explore all the sights of Petrin Hill and photograph everything that our heart desires. Here, in all their glory, the towers of the Church of St. Lawrence appeared before our eyes, which was erected a few meters from the tower:

The sandstone wall, which stretches across Petrin Hill from the fortifications on Hradcany to the Vltava, was built under Charles IV in 1360-62, when the monarch significantly expanded it. The wall, 6 meters high and two meters thick, was erected ostensibly for defensive purposes. But historians are more inclined to believe that strategic reasons were unimportant for the construction of the fortress wall. Lesser Town was more reliably protected by Petrin Hill. The construction of the wall was started in order to occupy the many unemployed people who poured into Prague. The workers received food for their work, and this construction saved many from starvation. For this reason, the fortress wall began to be called Golodnaya.

Nowadays, behind the Hungry Wall, the scientific and cultural sites of Petřín Hill are conveniently located. Not far from the tower you can see the domes of the Stefanik Observatory. And our path to the tower ran along this same section:

Since the staircase winds like a ribbon around the Petřín Tower, each turn brings visitors new views. And now the complex of the Strahov Monastery opens before your eyes:

Let's look from above and at the cheerful turrets of the mirror labyrinth, which is located right there on Petrin Hill:

By the way, there are complex tickets for visiting the tower and the mirror labyrinth. Pay attention to this offer too. If you are interested in the kingdom of distorting mirrors, then visiting these two attractions will cost less.

I took all these pictures while climbing the Petrin Tower. Once in the glass gallery at the top, visitors are content with a single open window... So the ascent and descent are much more favorable for viewing Prague in all directions. And in cloudless weather you will see the capital of the Czech Republic in all its glory.

And since I visited Petrin Hill in the fall, charming golden landscapes awaited me at the foot of the tower:

Friends, I think that those who for some reason believe that Prague is a small city with only a few ordinary residential neighborhoods outside the historical center should definitely take a look from the heights of the Petrin Tower. And some believe that Prague ends))

Having risen to a height of about 400 m and looking around Prague, you will get an idea of ​​​​the scale of the Czech capital. Let me remind you where this height came from. Firstly, Petřín Hill itself has “grown” to 327 m, and secondly, as you already know, the observation deck rises 55 m above the ground.

You will see, from the height of the Petřín Tower, Prague will reveal another of its beautiful sides to you.

Your euro guide Tatyana

Hello friends! The topic of our article this time is the Prague Eiffel Tower. And no, friends, this is not a typo. Such a building actually exists. It is located in Prague and is called the Petřínská rozhledna Tower. Its observation deck offers the best views of Prague.

Administrative zone Prague 1. Historical district of Hradcany.

Every resident of Russia has visited or heard about such a historical place in Moscow as VDNKh. The Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy was a place where workers from all branches of industry came. Here they shared their experience, here supply contracts were concluded, here every resident of the country could see all the most advanced and new things that were created and produced in the vast country.

Do you know when such a VDNH appeared for the first time in history?

In the Czech Republic, in 1791. Then Prague for the first time gathered all its entrepreneurs and businessmen who demonstrated their latest achievements.

The idea was picked up by all countries. Soon the exhibitions became international and regular.

Well, okay, but what does the Petrin Tower have to do with it? The Petřín Tower is something like our Olympic venues. It was made and installed as an observation deck for the anniversary Industrial Exhibition of 1891, which was held in Prague.

Anniversary exhibition and its objects

The 100th anniversary had to be celebrated not only on a grand scale; the Czechs had to surprise the whole world with their achievements. By that time, countries were sending their best representatives to such grandiose events.

Looking ahead, I will say that the exhibition was a success, although there was a scandalous incident when a balloon fell on one of the exhibition objects. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

During the exhibition, so many contracts were concluded that the Czech industry surged forward and for many years became a country supplying Europe with the best technical innovations of that time.

Especially for the opening of the Prague industrial exhibition, 20 buildings and objects were erected, the first electric tram and two funiculars were launched. The world's first dancing fountain produced indescribable delight and success. Among these objects was the Petřín Tower.

Tourists and businessmen came here to admire the views of the city and relax.

This was a view from the near future of Prague. The tower became a symbol of the new industrial and successful Czech Republic.

Originally from Paris

The initiative to build a tower and an observation deck on it for the Czech Tourists Club. Its representatives visited the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889, the entrance arch of which was the Eiffel Tower.

Two years later, when preparations began for the anniversary exhibition in Prague, Czech public figure Vilem Kurz came up with a proposal to build an observation tower in Prague.

The proposal was supported, and construction began in the spring of 1891. It was completed by the end of summer. The tower was manufactured and installed in 5 months.

Thus, the panorama of Prague and the historical Petřín Hill was decorated with a new building.

In 1953, the tower acquired a new function, and the era of television began for the residents of Prague. The first relay antenna in the Czech Republic was installed on the Petrin Tower. And its height increased by as much as 20 meters.

At the moment, the weight of the metal structure is 170 tons.
Height – 60 meters.

The tower is a free copy of the Eiffel Tower. Even technically they are different: the Prague Tower has an octagon at the base, while the Eiffel Tower has a square section.

In addition, the Petřín Tower seems a little taller due to the fact that it is located on a hill. Although the height above sea level of the towers is the same.

Impressive views

Why is this building interesting for us, tourists?

The observation deck is located at an altitude of 55 meters. From here you can clearly see St. Vitus Cathedral, the fabulous roofs of Prague, the Hungry Wall and other attractions of the city can be seen at a glance.

The tower itself is located at the junction of three administrative zones of Prague: 1 - the old city and zones 6 and 5, where new fashionable buildings are located. Standing on the observation deck you can see how the capital of the Czech Republic has grown and compare old Prague and modern Prague.

Provided the weather is good, not only Prague, but the entire Czech Republic is visible. To check this statement you need good binoculars)

On the lower level of the building there is a small cozy cafe and a souvenir shop, and the underground part of the tower is famous for the Jara Cimrman Museum located there.

Yara Cimrman is a talented hoax, a fictional character, but so bright and interesting that people write about him, stage plays and make films.

There are two ways to climb the tower:

• by elevator
• and along the spiral staircase (it’s about 10 minutes on foot)

Descent from the tower along the same spiral staircase of 299 steps. The staircase is open, protected by metal railings and curbing. Along the descent there are small rest areas. You can admire views of the surrounding area.

There are almost always a lot of tourists and photographers on the observation deck. As you already understand, everyone wants to capture the best view of the old city, and the happy owners of super new equipment are trying to squeeze out all the possibilities from their equipment and photograph the whole country.

After the observation deck, it is worth taking a walk along the hill itself. The places are beautiful, quiet, and there is also entertainment - the Mirror Maze and the Fun Room. By the way, the Mirror Maze arrived on the hill from the same famous exhibition in 1891. This is a rebuilt pavilion for Czech tourists.

It’s worth going here for a few hours, or better yet, a day. And, of course, children will feel good here - no fuss, no noise, no these crazy tourists)

Working hours

• From October to March: from 10.00 to 20.00
• From April to September: from 10:00 to 22:00
• From late autumn to late winter from 10.00 to 18.00

Official site: www.petrinska-rozhledna.cz

What is the price

• Entrance ticket costs 120 CZK for adults
• 65 CZK for children and preferential groups of people
• Elevator ride – 60 CZK.
• Admission is free for Prague Card holders.

How to get there

• From the Malostranská metro station take trams no. 12, 20, 22, 57, 91 to the Újezd ​​stop. Then you can walk up the hill to the tower or take the funicular.
• There are also buses running to the Újezd ​​bus stop from various points in the city. Buses No. 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 58.
• Bus number 176 goes to the Stadion Strahov stop. This is the final stop of the bus. From the stadium there is a 1.5 km walk to the hill, not uphill, through an elite residential complex, a rose garden and a planetarium.

Address: Petřínské sady, 118 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic

Petrin Tower on the map

We have no doubt that the Petřín Tower will open up a new Prague for you and give you the opportunity to enjoy views of the city from a bird’s eye view.

We will be glad to see your blog subscriptions. Goodbye!

(Czech: Petřínská rozhledna) was built at the end of the 19th century as a semblance of the Eiffel Tower (on a scale of 1:5). There are 299 steps leading to the very top of the tower (63.5 meters), from where a stunning panoramic view opens not only of Prague, but also of the immediate surroundings (subject to favorable weather conditions).

In 1889, entrepreneurs from the Czech Tourists Club, who visited the World Exhibition in Paris, were so inspired by the creation of Gustave Eiffel that on the way back they agreed to create a similar attraction in their native Prague. The construction, the site for which Petrin Hill was chosen for obvious reasons, was timed to coincide with the Zemstvo Jubilee Exhibition. The grand opening of the building took place August 20, 1891.

The Petrin Tower differs from the Eiffel Tower not only in scale (1:5), but also in shape - the Prague landmark has an octagonal cross-section, while the Parisian one is square.

During a visit to occupied Prague, Adolf Hitler expressed a desire to demolish the Petřín Tower because, in his opinion, it spoiled the view from Prague Castle, where the official residence of the Imperial Protector was located. This whim, fortunately, was never fulfilled.

Since the early 1950s, the structure began to be used for television and radio broadcasting purposes, as a result of which the elevator disappeared and the royal crown that crowned it was replaced by a television antenna. The tower ceased to be used as a television tower at the end of the 20th century, and since 2001, visitors have again had the opportunity to ascend to its top by elevator.

The total height of the building exceeds 60 meters. In addition to the elevator, there are 299 steps leading to the observation deck. During the reconstruction, at a height of 20 meters, instead of the old balcony, a gallery was created, which can also be accessed by tourists in a wheelchair. On the ground floor of the tower there is a lobby, a cafeteria and a souvenir shop, in the basement there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the Czech Tourists Club and Petrin Hill itself.

In addition to a unique panorama of Prague, including the nearby Prague Castle, in good weather the tower offers views of geographical features far beyond the capital. In the north, for example, you can see Mount Rzip - the national symbol of the Czech Republic, and in the northeast - the famous Krkonose massif with the country's highest point - Snezka.

Petřín Tower is the only place in Prague from where you can see St. Vitus Cathedral in full size. A particularly beautiful panoramic view opens in the evening.

Important! In addition to the entrance ticket, there is also a separate ticket for the elevator. Only children can use the elevator free of charge. Because of the queue for the elevator, sometimes it’s even faster to walk up, but you shouldn’t do this in windy weather.

There is Petrin Hill in Prague. It is not the highest, but it is particularly picturesque and attractive compared to other hills. There is a remarkable tower on it, which is a symbol of Prague and the entire Czech Republic.

General information about the hill

The history of Petřín Hill is full of numerous interesting events, and there are many attractions associated with them. Among them there is a structure that will be discussed in this article. This is the well-known Petrin Tower in Prague. We’ll find out how to get to this amazingly beautiful place below. But first, let's see where it all began.

Previously, Petřín Hill had several names. At first it was called a mountain, then it was renamed St. Lawrence Hill (or Kopec). At that time, a cross was erected at this place.

It should be noted that the bulk of the stones used in the construction of many Prague attractions were extracted from Petrin Hill. Now these excavated places are well hidden by trees and other green vegetation.

A little history

One day, on the initiative of members of the Czech Tourists Club, a tower was built on Petřín Hill in Prague. This idea appeared after they visited the World Exhibition in France in 1889. This structure is similar to the famous Eiffel Tower, but smaller in size.

In 1890, Vilem Kurz took the initiative in a newspaper article to erect an observation tower in the Petřín area. Construction began in March 1891, and ended in August, after which its grand opening took place. Below in the article more detailed information will be presented: what the Petrin Tower is, the address of the object, etc.

Today this building stands on the top of a beautiful green hill and proudly rises above all of Prague, which amazes with its unique beauty.

Petrin Tower in Prague: description

This tower was built from steel. The weight of the structure, the authors of which are engineers Julia Soucka and František Prašil, is about 170 tons.

The height of the tower is 60 meters. In 1953, after strengthening a television antenna on it (the first relay station in the Czech Republic, operating until 1998), the height of the structure increased by 20 meters.

The Petřín Tower has steps, there are 299 of them in total. There is also an elevator, which tourists can use for 50 CZK. The observation deck, located at a height of 55 meters, offers visitors a magnificent panorama of Prague. From it you can see all the city buildings, attractions, picturesque surroundings and hills. The last restoration work on the tower was carried out in 1999.

The lower level is occupied by souvenir shops and a small cafe, and the underground part contains a small museum of the famous literary hero Jar Cimrman. Although the tower is not very high, it should be remembered that it stands at the very top of Petrin Hill, and as you know, its height is considerable.

The Petrin Tower, which is a kind of miniature copy of the Eiffel Tower, was built for the anniversary exhibition.

Location, how to get there

Petrin Hill is located in the very center of Prague. Its height is 327 meters. It is located in the western part of Mala Strana, near the Vltava River (left bank).

In clear weather, from its observation deck you can see the highest mountain peak in the Czech Republic, called Snezka. The distance to it is 150 kilometers.

The Petřín Tower has a convenient location for citizens and tourists (in terms of traveling to it). Getting there is easy and simple. You can get from the city by using trams No. 12, 20, 22 and 57. You need to go to the stop called “Uyezd”. You can climb the tower itself in two of the above ways: by cable car (for a fee), or on foot along the steps (free).

Attractions in the surrounding area

1. The magnificent Victorian funicular is Prague's most popular attraction. The first stations were built during that same exhibition in 1891. The funicular goes up and down every 15 minutes. It can accommodate up to 100 people, for whom there are 70 standing and 30 seats. The last stop (there are only two) of the funicular is Petrin Tower.

2. From the outside, the Mirror Maze is an ordinary miniature castle, but inside it is an endless space. A rather complex system of mirrors forms bizarre tunnels in which a person feels cut off from reality. This attraction is interesting for both adults and children. At the end of the journey there is a room with highly curved mirrors that distort the images of people beyond recognition, which is very funny.

As a reward, after successfully completing the labyrinth, a historical diorama opens up to visitors (the battle between the Swedes and Czechs in the war of 1648). Those present amazingly get the feeling of being in the thick of all the events that are happening.

3. Observatory named after. M. Stefanik currently has three telescopes: one is used only by scientists, and the other 2 are available to all amateurs interested in other planets.

4. St. Lawrence Cathedral is built in the form of an elongated quadrangle. Its convex front is decorated with a statue of St. Lawrence.

Petřín Gardens

The gardens around the tower amaze with their fabulous beauty. Magnificent examples of elegant architecture and flowering alleys are imprinted in the memory of numerous tourists.

At the very foot of the hill stretches the Seminary Garden, in the upper section of which there is a tower, surrounded on all sides by an amazing garden adjacent to it. In addition, the complex includes the following: Strahov and Seminar gardens, the Nebozizek garden (named after the vineyard), a wonderful rose garden, spread over an area of ​​5.6 hectares.

Set in beautiful gardens stands the equally charming Petřín Tower in Prague.

Address, opening hours

The tower, Petřín Gardens and other attractions remain in the memory of tourists who have visited these amazingly beautiful places in the Czech Republic for a long time. Address: Petrin Gardens, Prague 1 - Lesser Town 118 00.

The Petrin Tower in Prague is open to tourists almost all year round.

Opening hours:

• March and October: from 10:00 to 20:00 daily;
• April - September: from 10:00 to 22:00 daily;
• November - February: from 10:00 to 18:00 daily.

What can you see from the observation deck of the tower?

Prague can be seen in all its immense beauty from the heights of the observation deck. From this place you can see the entire Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, the high-rise area (Pankrác) and Vysehrad. Perfectly visible from the height of the river. The Vltava and most of the bridges spanning it.

Nearby you can see the fresh greenery of the treetops, the Mirror Labyrinth, the delightful Rose Garden and the Church of St. Lawrence. At a distance you can see the Lesser Town palaces (Schönborn of the US Embassy and Lobkovitsky - the German Embassy). In autumn, when all the foliage has fallen, on the territory you can see the famous sculpture "Trabant" on unimaginably large human legs (built in honor of German political refugees of the 80s).

The Petřín Tower rises majestically above all these historical and natural attractions, which you want to look at endlessly from a bird's eye view.

Conclusion

Even during the reign of Emperor Rudolf II (Renaissance), Petrin was the most popular place for recreation and walks. Gradually, ornamental shrubs and trees formed amazing gardens there, pleasant to visit, especially in the summer heat. Beginning in the 17th century, gardens and parks in the Petřín Hill area began to be filled with statues of prominent Czechs.

Today the tower looks especially beautiful and impressive at night. In the dark, its bright original lighting attracts attention.

In conclusion, it should be said that funds for the implementation of such a wonderful idea as the construction of a tower with an observation deck were collected throughout the country. The idea that once arose among tourists after visiting Paris came to life in just 5 months.