Petřín (Czech pronunciation:[ˈpɛtr̝̊iːn]) is a hill in the centre ofPrague,Czech Republic. It rises 327 m above sea level and some 130 m above the left bank of theVltava River. The hill, almost entirely covered withparks, is a favorite recreational area for the inhabitants of Prague.[1] The hill (inGerman known asLaurenziberg) is featured prominently inFranz Kafka's early short story "Description of a Struggle" and briefly inMilan Kundera's novelThe Unbearable Lightness of Being.[2]
The chroniclerCosmas describes Petřín as a very rocky place, the hill is allegedly called Petřín because of the large number of rocks (Latin: petra).[3] Since ancient times,stones were dug and were used to construct buildings in Prague. Medieval defence wall, theHunger Wall was built on Petřín Hill during 1360 - 1362, by the order ofking of BohemiaCharles IV. ThePetřín Lookout Tower, which strongly resembles the Eiffel Tower, was built atop a hill in 1891. Other sights include the Rose Garden, Mirror Maze,Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, and St Michael Church.
The summit of the hill is linked to Prague'sMalá Strana district by thePetřín funicular, afunicular railway that first operated in 1891.
50°05′01″N14°23′43″E / 50.08361°N 14.39528°E /50.08361; 14.39528
