Prague district of Žižkov is not a place of war anymore
The famous history of Žižkov
Originally the district was a town, dominated by and named after the Vítkov hill. The name of the hill was that of an owner of local vineyards from the 14th century. Vítkov was made famous thanks to the historical battle, where the army of Jan Žižka defeated a crusade against Czech heretics. This took place on 14 July 1420. And specifically this event influenced the name of the local district, streets, squares as well as various local businesses.
This might be hard to believe, but around the year 1900 the town of Žižkov was the third largest city in the Czech Republic, only superseded by Prague and Pilsen. Its first architect and construction engineer was Karel Hartig, who also became its first mayor. The center of trade used to be Prokopovo square, which is now commemorated by Hašek’s monument. In present times, the main square in Žižkov is considered to be the Havlíčkovo square with its town hall. It represents a pleasant oasis with blooming flowers. Perhaps this luxurious area will also inspire you for your creative activities, as it has done for a number of local artists…?
Tallest building in the city: the Žižkov Television Tower
Žižkov has a number of luxurious landmarks which are certainly worth visiting. The most modern one is undoubtedly the Žižkov Television Tower located in Mahlerovy Sady, near the Jewish Cemetery. The TV tower, which also serves as an observation tower, was built in 1992. It is 216 meters tall and as such is currently the tallest building in Prague. The luxurious observation deck is located on its 93rd floor – there you can also treat yourselves to coffee, breakfast, or even a romantic dinner. The gigantic “Babies” plastic statues, a work of David Černý, are a unique decoration on the TV tower; they’ve been permanently placed here since 2001.
The Riding Žižka statue and National Monument
The majestic riding statue of Jan Žižka is located on the aforementioned hill of Vítkov; it is, in fact, the third largest statue in the world. It weighs an impressive 16.5 tons, is 9 meters tall and 9.6 meters long, and is composed of 120 bronze parts and 5000 screws. The Vítkov hill is also the location of the National Monument and its exhibit titled “Crossroads of the Czech and Czechoslovak Statehood”, capturing historical events which influenced our country since its foundation in 1918. Don’t let the ascent deter you – this impressive location will enrich your soul thanks to its beautiful views.
The famous author Jaroslav Hašek used to live on Husova street, in the house now called “U Zlatého Anděla”. The Nobel laureate Jaroslav Seifert was also born in Žižkov. And you too can, for a while, be part of this inspiring district: by visiting some of its luxurious vistas, enjoying one of the typical local pubs or visiting its hidden atmospheric coffee houses.
