Petrin Hill, Prague, Czech Republic
Created | Updated Nov 9, 2005
Petrin is a peaceful hill that became a public park in 1800, having previous been a vineyard like many other hills in town. Not that far away from the touristy hustle and bustle of the Karluv Most, it's a great place to go to take a breather, look down at the city below you and get your bearings. It's quite a long climb to the top, but there's also the option of the funicular railway, which has been in service since 1891 and is run by the city transport authorities - so you can use your 'prestupni jizdenka' on it. There is a station halfway up, with a posh restaurant nearby which offers better food and almost as good a vista as the one in the TV Tower. The funicular continues to the top of the hill, where there is a planetarium, and also a rose garden and mirror maze. But most interesting is the Petrin Tower, a one-sixth size copy of the Eiffel Tower, also built in 1891. On some days you can climb it, although opening hours are spasmodic.
