Situated in the center of Prague and located close to such lovely areas as Vinohrady, Žižkov is a popular residential and nightlife quarter known for its many bars, restaurants, sights, and more. Most of Žižkov is in Prague 3, however small parts are also in Prague 8 and 10. It is interesting to note that before 1922 Žižkov was an independent city outside of Prague. Named after the one-eyed Hussite military leader Jan Žižka, Žižkov was historically a working class district and had at once a bad reputation has a rough area of the city. This reputation has become a source of pride throughout the quarter and some Žižkovians still refer to their neighborhood as “The free republic of Žižkov”. Žižkov is today one of the most popular up and coming neighborhoods in Prague and is home to many expatriates. Žižkov sights include the Television Tower decorated with giant crawling babies, Palac Akropolis, the National Monument with a massive equestrian statue of Jan Žižka, many beautiful parks, the evocative Olšany Cemetery, the New Jewish Cemetery, the Prague University of Economics and much more.
The Zizkov Television Tower
The Zizkov Television Tower at 216 meters is the highest structure in the city of Prague. Built between 1985 and 1992, started by the Communists, the tower was once resented by local inhabitants, as the megalomaniac tower forever changed the skyline of Prague and also destroyed part of a centuries old Jewish cemetery where the foundations of the tower are located. The reputation among Czechs has changed over time due to a strange art installation in 2000 from the famous Czech artist David Cerny. The tower still stands out like a sore thumb in the skyline of Prague, but now there are ten giant …
Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord
This strange train station like church was built in 1932 and is one of the most unique structures in the city of Prague. Unlike the majority of churches in Prague, this one, although built in 1932, is modern in comparison with the hundred plus year old churches in Prague. The Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik was also responsible for some innovative additions to Prague Castle. The strange brick church on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square showcases a massive tower complete with a large transparent clock, giving it the train station look. Early Christian basilicas and Egyptian temples inspired the church. …
National Memorial on Vitkov Hill
Perched atop the city of Prague and opened to the public on October 29, 2009 after an extensive renovation, is the Vitkov memorial and the massive horse statue with Jan Žižka, the one-eyed warrior proudly overlooking the city of Prague. The grand off white structure has long been an interesting historical monument and cursed one at that, according to many historians (perhaps because of the embalmed body of the first Communist president Gottwald that ended up there on display). The exhibit titled Crossroads of Czech and Czechoslovak Statehood deals with 5 main points of the turbulent 20th cen …
The Zizkov Television Tower
The Zizkov Television Tower at 216 meters is the highest structure in the city of Prague. Built between 1985 and 1992, started by the Communists, the tower was once resented by local inhabitants, as the megalomaniac tower forever changed the skyline of Prague and also destroyed part of a centuries old Jewish cemetery where the foundations of the tower are located. The reputation among Czechs has changed over time due to a strange art installation in 2000 from the famous Czech artist David Cerny. The tower still stands out like a sore thumb in the skyline of Prague, but now there are ten giant …
Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord
This strange train station like church was built in 1932 and is one of the most unique structures in the city of Prague. Unlike the majority of churches in Prague, this one, although built in 1932, is modern in comparison with the hundred plus year old churches in Prague. The Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik was also responsible for some innovative additions to Prague Castle. The strange brick church on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square showcases a massive tower complete with a large transparent clock, giving it the train station look. Early Christian basilicas and Egyptian temples inspired the church. …
National Memorial on Vitkov Hill
Perched atop the city of Prague and opened to the public on October 29, 2009 after an extensive renovation, is the Vitkov memorial and the massive horse statue with Jan Žižka, the one-eyed warrior proudly overlooking the city of Prague. The grand off white structure has long been an interesting historical monument and cursed one at that, according to many historians (perhaps because of the embalmed body of the first Communist president Gottwald that ended up there on display). The exhibit titled Crossroads of Czech and Czechoslovak Statehood deals with 5 main points of the turbulent 20th cen …
Prague Army Museum
Located on Vítkov Hill in the Prague district of Žižkov is the Prague Army Museum. The Prague Army Museum shares Vítkov Hill with the National Liberation Memorial where you can find the world’s tallest equestrian statue with Hussite Leader and Commander Jan Zizka perched atop a massive horse. The Prague Army Museum is divided into three spacious sections. The sections are as such: World War I, 1914 – 1918 (where you can find information about Czech and Slovak involvement in the war and information about the constitution of the Czechoslovak Republic), the Czechoslovak Republic and i …
Olšany Cemetery
Located in Zizkov is Prague’s largest and most evocative burial place, the Olšany Cemetery. This cemetery is a peaceful and lush space full of gorgeous burial sites, Art Nouveau monuments with climbing ivy and clearly marked lanes, all of which resembles Pere Lachaise in Paris. The cemetery was created in 1680 for plague victims that needed to be buried quickly and soon after became the main cemetery for the city of Prague as bodies were not to be buried within the city limits and at the time Zizkov was outside of the limits. The cemetery is picturesque and tranquil and is a surprising …
Jiřího z Poděbrad Square
An excellent starting point for a stroll around Vinohrady, Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, sits on the border between Prague 2 and Prague 3 and the blurred line that is the border between the Žižkov and Vinohrady neighborhoods. Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, or Jiřák to locals, was named after the famous Hussite King Jiří z Poděbrad (George of Podebrady) from the 15th century, who was famous as a moderate Hussite leader attempting to establish peace during his reign, and who tried – though failed – to establish a peace agreement that is seen as the earliest echoes of the modern-day European Union. …