National Monument at Vítkov, Prague, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The National Monument at Vítkov is a large hilltop memorial in the Žižkov district of Prague, built in the 1920s and 1930s to honour the Czechoslovak state and its legionnaires. It is best known for the huge bronze statue of the Hussite commander Jan Žižka in front of it, and for the wide view over the city from Vítkov Hill.

The story behind it

Vítkov Hill is tied to a medieval battle. In 1420 Hussite forces led by Jan Žižka defeated the army of King Sigismund here, which is why the hill became the setting for a monument to Czech national memory. The modern building was raised after the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 and completed in the early 1930s to a design by the architect Jan Zázvorka. It was meant to commemorate the legionnaires and the founding of the new republic.

The monument has had several lives. It later held the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and during the communist era it was used as a mausoleum for the party leader Klement Gottwald. Today it is run by the National Museum and houses exhibitions on Czech and Czechoslovak history of the 20th century.

What to look for

• The equestrian statue of Jan Žižka by the sculptor Bohumil Kafka, one of the largest bronze equestrian statues in the world, which looks even bigger up close.
• The massive, plain stone front of the building, whose severe geometry shows the style of Czechoslovak public architecture between the wars.
• The view from the terrace and the slopes in front, which takes in the Old Town, Prague Castle and the rooftops of Žižkov.
• The Žižkov Television Tower in the distance, a very different landmark from the same district.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 30 minutes to walk around the outside and enjoy the view, and more if you plan to see the museum exhibitions inside. Check current opening hours before you go.
• The hill is a park, so you can walk up and around the monument at any time. Wear comfortable shoes, as the approach is uphill.
• Late afternoon is a good time for the light over the city, and clear days give the best views.
• Combine the visit with a stroll through Žižkov, with its pubs and cafes, or walk down toward the centre of Prague.

Explore it on a quest

Vítkov is far more rewarding when you walk it as part of a longer route through the neighbourhood rather than as a single stop. Discover the area on one of Questo's self-guided quests: see all the quests in Prague, start whenever you like, and let the app lead you from place to place, tell you about each one and set a puzzle in what is in front of you.