The Casemates and the Gorlice Hall

The complex system of the Vyšehrad Casemates, underground corridors for rapid troop movement came into existence in 17. and 18. centuries during the construction of bastion fortification. The corridors are about 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) wide and 2 meters (8.5 feet) high. They have regularly-spaced ventilation shafts leading to the rampart walkways. In some places, the tunner features embrasures for light firearms and alcoves where weapons and tools were stored.

The Vyšehrad Casemates are divided into four independent sections and their total length is 1017 meters (3336 feet). The first two sections start from the Brick Gate, one of them leads to the Gorlice Hall and the other one ends in the artillery redoubt (a fortified enclosure), where today’s Open Air Theatre is situated. The third section is called the St. Martin’s Casemates and runs near the Rotunda of St. Martin, the fourth section known as the Podolí Casemates is found close to the Children’s Playground.

The Gorlice Hall is the largest casemate space in Vyšehrad. The construction of this 290-square-meter (31250-square-feet), 12-meter (40 feet) hall took place from 1656 to 1678 after the shape of the bastion of St. Bernard was modified. In case of an incoming attack, this impressive hall was meant to serve as an assembly area for the troops and a warehouse for ammunition and food. In the past century, Gorlice served as a bomb shelter and a potato and vegetable warehouse.

The space is used as a gallery today, since the 1990s it houses six of the original Baroque statues from the Charles Bridge: The Madonna attending to St. Bernard (M. V. Jackl, 1709), St. Augustine, St. Nicholas of Tolentino (both by J. B. Kohl, 1708), St. Adalbert (F. M. Brokoff, 1709), St. Anna (M. V. Jackl, 1707) and St. Ludmila with the infant Wenceslaus (M. B. Braun, 1724).

 

Guided tours:

• the guided tour commentary is available in Czech and English
• printed guide texts to borrow in other languges (En, Ger, Rus, It, Fr, Esp, Pol, Jap, Tur, Dut, Hun)
• ticket sale at the Brick Gate (Cihelná brána) information center
• the tours start every hour on the hour (10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00)

Opening hours:

• daily 10:00–18:00
• the last tour starts at 17:00

Admission:

• full CZK 170
• reduced CZK 120
• family (2 adults & 2 children) CZK 340
• children under 6 years FREE

Admission fees may vary during exhibitions and events.

Groups of more than 10 persons:

• April – September
• please order in advance +420 242 451 197

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