Greetings, friends! The previous post allowed us to see how the Kampa Island in Prague created an almost Venetian picture next to the Charles Bridge. Or rather, the Chertovka River served, separating the island, which stretched from Charles Bridge along Mala Strana almost to the Legia Bridge. That small, but such an interesting piece of Kampa, which is located closer to the Lesser Town bridge towers, already has its views. Now we will travel along the entire length of the island.
In this article:
- General overview of Kampa Island
- Liechtenstein Palace and its history
- Kampy Park
- Sculpture Bruncvik
A little about Kampa Island
Kampa Island was formed at a time when the territory of the future Prague was actively built up and developed on its shores. This suggests that the island did not appear without human intervention. There is an assumption that the monks living on this bank laid a canal back in the 12th century to regulate the water level in the river. So in one fell swoop both the island and the Chertovka River appeared. It is quite possible that this was the case.
There are different versions regarding the name of the island. One of them explains the introduction of the name Campa by the fact that once there was a camp of Spanish troops on the island - a campus. The word was transformed in the Czech manner, and that’s how it stuck.
Let's accept these versions and go on a tour of the island.
As you already know from the previous article, to get to the main territory of Kampa Island, you can walk along the road under the Charles Bridge. And, looking around here, the first thing you will see is a beautiful staircase connecting the bridge and the island.
And, as you understand, it’s even easier to get to Kampa Island - use these stairs. Many people do this. While still walking along the Charles Bridge, they are not in a hurry to walk the distance from the Old Town Bridge Tower to the Lesser Town Towers, or vice versa, and pay attention to the stairs leading down.
And since some kind of very interesting life is often in full swing below, the most curious tourists turn onto the steps.
Tourists may not yet know that this is Kampa Island. But how can you remain indifferent if something tempting and exciting is happening on the central alley? For example, at the time of this photograph, a winemaking festival was taking place on Kampa:
Well, maybe festival is too strong a term for this event. That day, winemakers gathered at Kampa to demonstrate their products and provide visitors with the opportunity to taste new wines.
The tradition of winemaking on Kampe has deep roots, since the lands of the island were planted with vineyards in the 15th century. The island was a good food source for wealthy residents of Prague's Lesser Town. Winemaking and flour milling developed here, and four mills operated on Chertovka.
It’s nice that the Czech Republic has such a tradition of tasting drinks. In Karlovy Vary you can while visiting the museum. In Prague on Kampe - taste wine.
But our interests are broader than tasting)) Therefore, we are going to get acquainted with the island.
When you cross the first hundred meters from the Charles Bridge, you get the impression that you are walking along a boulevard. There is an alley in the central part of Kampa. The trees are planted in a strict order, with benches for rest between them. Events are not always held on the alley; more often it is spacious and not so crowded.
To the right of the alley are hotels, restaurants, and service buildings. In this row you will find the Kampa Garden Hotel. A good choice if you decide to stay within a five-minute walk of the main attractions and at the same time in a calm and comfortable environment.
On the left side, following the buildings built in a continuous row, there is a beautiful mansion - the Liechtenstein Palace. In Prague, two palaces are called Liechtenstein palaces. One of them is located on Malostranska Square. And this one is on the very banks of the Vltava.
History of Liechtenstein Palace
The history of the palace began at the end of the 16th century, when the first house appeared on this site. Who knows what the fate of Kampa Island would have been if there had not been a severe fire in 1541. in Mala Strana, after which wealthy people looked at the island as a suitable place of residence.
In 1696, a real palace with two towers in the Baroque style was erected on the banks of the Vltava. Kaiserstein Palace - that's what it was called. But in 1831 the building was bought by the Count of Liechtenstein and rebuilt in the classicist style. This is where the name of the palace comes from. And although it was rebuilt several times, they tried to preserve the skillfully executed coat of arms.
The palace underwent the last reconstruction in the 80s of the last century, since then it has been at the disposal of the government and is used to receive high-ranking guests.
If you turn left just before the palace and walk along a narrow passage between the buildings, you can go out onto the bank of the Vltava in the place where the miniature pier for tourist boats is located:
From this site there are stunning panoramas of the right bank of the Vltava and. One day we walked along Kampa in the evening and admired from here the Charles Bridge and the Old Town Tower, sparkling in the rays of lights:
Kampa Park
Immediately behind the Liechtenstein Palace, the park begins - the most spacious green area of Kampa. This was once a palace park laid out in the English style, so the trees here are mighty and strong. Now the park is a popular recreation area in Prague:
Narrow paths branch off from the central alley to the left, leading to the banks of the Vltava, and to the right, leading to Chertovka. There are several sculptures in the park, both classical busts of famous personalities in the Czech Republic, and statues of heroes about whom the legends of Kampa tell.
But you will meet the most impressive sculptural group when approaching the Museum of Modern Art, which is located in the depths of the park near the central alley. Here you will see three “babies” by David Czerny:
It is difficult to place all the “Babies” in the frame at once, because they are quite large in size. The height of each sculpture is 2.5 m and the length is 3.5 m. But the main attention is drawn to the faces of the babies. The modern Czech sculptor is thus trying to influence society's attitude towards abortion.
Despite the soul-crushing resemblance to the faces of babies, the sculptures are very popular. Visitors to the park are constantly taking pictures next to them and riding on them, measuring their height with the babies. Exactly the same “kids”, but in the amount of 10, are located in Zizkov.
If you continue further behind the museum, then very soon the whole island will end... From here you can easily go to Mala Strana and you can, for example, climb. Or go out onto the Legia Bridge and go to the other side of the Vltava, straight to the National Theater and the island of Zofin.
But, of course, you can return, cross Kampa in the opposite direction and end up at the Charles Bridge. Moreover, we also want to look at the mysterious sculpture standing almost under the bridge.
Sculpture Bruncvik
Bruncvik is the legendary hero of Prague, who went through many trials and emerged victorious. To see Bruncvik, we will walk between the buildings near the Charles Bridge towards the Vltava. There this hero is installed on the crest of the bridge, on an elegant carved pedestal.
You can also see the Bruncvik sculpture from if you look over the railing. Only the pedestal is not visible from above.
Bruncvik holds a magical golden sword. Its magic lies in the fact that it can kill as many enemies overnight as its owner orders. And the sculpture was installed in the place where a real self-cutting sword is supposedly hidden in the foundations of the Charles Bridge. As long as no one threatens the country, the sword lies quietly in its secluded niche. But if a threat looms, then beware, enemies!
This knight is also directly related to the formation of the symbols of the Czech Republic. When Bruncvik wandered and overcame obstacles for seven years, a lion helped him in everything. Bruntsvik returned to his fatherland with this beast and arranged a place for it at court. Thus, thanks to Bruncvik, a lion depicted on a red background became the symbol of the Czech Republic.
This completes your walk around Kampa Island. If you followed our tour, you would end up at the stairs leading to the Charles Bridge:
Now it's time to climb the bridge and continue the path either towards the Old Town Tower, or towards the Lesser Town Towers, and further to. Enjoy your travels!
Your euro guide Tatyana
Kampa is one of the eight islands of Prague. It is considered the most beautiful and touristic of them. PragaTrips talks about Kampa Island and its attractions.
Appearance and history of the island
Kampa is formed by the Vltava and its tributary Certovka, a small artificial canal. It was dug in the 12th century by the monks of the Order of Malta, who were responsible for the Judith Bridge - they repaired it and took a tax for maintenance. The Maltese built several mills for which they needed water, so they diverted a branch from the Vltava - this is how the island appeared. Five of those mills have survived to this day, and two even retained their mill wheels.
They began to populate the island after the Charles Bridge was built - it replaced Juditin, which was demolished by a flood. The first inhabitants of Kampa were masons and carpenters, whose job was to repair and renovate the new bridge. Until the middle of the 16th century, the island was planted with gardens and vineyards.
In 1541 Mala Strana was burned down by fire. At that time, they brought earth, charred logs left from houses, and other material that could still be used for something to the island. This is how the current coastline was formed. Then the chaos was straightened out, the island was strengthened and construction began again.
Rich people were afraid to build their residences and palaces next to the Vltava, which could flood Kampa at any moment. So they sold the land to artisans - and so a compact colony of handymen appeared on Kampa, something like a working-class district. Ceramics fairs were often held on the market square, attracting potters from all over the Czech Kingdom. Nowadays, on Christmas and other major holidays, festivities and fairs are also held here - the tradition has been preserved.
At the end of the 18th century, the island received its current name, although it appeared much earlier. The main version of the origin is the Spanish word “campa”, which means “camp”. The fact is that Spanish soldiers once camped on the island. The name was legalized only in 1977.
Sights of Kampa Island
We have already talked about some interesting places and objects of the island, so here we will mention them briefly and with links. About the rest - a little more detail.
An ancient mill with a wheel, which was built by the Hospitallers. It worked until 1936, and now a restaurant has been opened in it. The wheel is still spinning - for the ambiance.
34 yellow illuminated penguins, which were made from waste and garbage. They march side by side along a special bridge, calling on people to take care of the environment and use resources wisely.
House “At the Owl Mills”. One of the oldest farms on the island. There was not only a house with a mill, but also a tanning shop and a sawmill. Then it was restored and placed inside the Kampa Museum.
Gallery of contemporary art, where works of artists and sculptors of Central and Eastern Europe are collected.
A huge chair, which, like the yellow penguins, stands near the Kampa Museum. The original chair was created by sculptor Magdalena Etelova in the 80s, but the great flood of 2002 washed it away from the Vltava lock. A year later, the furniture returned and became even two meters taller: six versus the previous four.
Crawling babies. Huge, black, faceless babies crawling around Kampa Park near the Museum of Contemporary Art on Kampa Island. Exactly the same ones climb the Žižkov TV Tower. The author is the famous and shocking sculptor David Cerny.
The highlight of this house is the balcony. In 1892, the owner Anna fled there from a flood. When the water approached the balcony itself, the woman saw an icon of the Virgin Mary floating on the water. Since there was nothing to do anyway, Anna began to ask the Mother of God to save the city from the flood. The water supposedly actually receded - since then the icon has been installed above the balcony and illuminated by a lamp.
A 20-meter bridge next to the Velkoprzevorskaya mill, which couples from all over the world hung with locks - a symbol of unbreakable love and devotion. The keys are usually thrown directly into the water of the Devil's River.
A three-story hexagonal palace in which the Czech government accommodates high-ranking foreign guests - monarchs, presidents, prime ministers. For example, the Queen of England, the Japanese Emperor, and the ruling couple of Spain lived there.
The first parts of the palace were built after the fire of 1541, but almost nothing remains from those times. In 1620, the architect from Verona Giovanni Alliprandi was commissioned to carry out the reconstruction - this is how the hexagonal building appeared. In this palace, the Hussite leaders were sentenced to death after the Catholics defeated their army at the White Mountain.
In 1791, Leopold II was crowned at the Liechtenstein Palace, and for this event the building was updated and slightly remodeled. They built a grand staircase, a spacious hall, and a neoclassical façade. The roof was made simpler, the towers and attic were removed altogether, and the Baroque portal was decorated with capitals and pilasters. This is how the palace acquired the features of classicist architecture.
In 1864, the building was bought by the Odkolkoff family, which owned the Sovoye mills and bakeries. During their time, an additional floor was built, and balconies were added to the first level on the Vltava side.
In the 20th century, the building was taken over first by the municipality, and then by the government of Czechoslovakia. It was reconstructed several more times, and the last major renovation was needed after the 2002 flood.
In the ancient part of the Liechtenstein Palace, paintings on wooden ceilings have been preserved. In newer interiors, you can admire the gilding of relief vaults, floors decorated with mosaics, and the remains of ancient furnishings.
How to get to Kampa Island in Prague
If you are coming from Stare Město, the easiest way is to walk to the end of Charles Bridge and go down the stairs to the island.
And if you are already in Mala Strana, then you can get to the island by trams - stops “Ujezd” and “Hellichova”. Daytime routes No. 12, 15, 20, 22, 23 and night route 97 stop at both.
Kampa Island is one of eight islands in Prague, the most famous and picturesque of them. It has had its name since 1770. One version of the name is that the island got its name thanks to the Spaniards, who stationed a military camp (campa) here after the defeat of the Czechs in the Battle of White Mountain. Another is that its name comes from the name of Tikhon Gansgeb from Kampa, who had a house on the island.
Until the mid-16th century, the island was covered with gardens and vineyards. After the fire of 1541, the remains of burnt houses began to be brought here. The surface of the island, strengthened by this, made it possible to build houses here. The first developers were artisans. This quarter with a small area has survived to this day. The houses have been rebuilt over time and now have different facades: from Baroque to Neo-Gothic. The square is a traditional venue for fairs, including Christmas.
Kampa Island is separated from Mala Strana by a narrow river called Chertovka. According to legend, its name comes from the nickname of a very grumpy washerwoman who once washed clothes here. In ancient times, water mills were built on Kampa. The Khut on Chertovka mill with a wooden wheel, founded in 1498 (and according to other sources, in 1293), has survived to this day. From Na Kampě Square between houses no. 2 and 3 there is a narrow passage to the Velkoperzeworsk Mill, known since 1400. It is clearly visible from the Charles Bridge. There is also Sovovy Mlýny, but now it is no longer a mill, but a museum of modern art created by the Czech-Americans Jan and Meda Mladkov - the Kampa Museum. Some exhibits can even be seen in the courtyard. Not far from the museum, large black babies without the faces of the very famous, shocking sculptor David Cerny are crawling on the grass (the same as on the TV tower).
In the southern part of the island there is a shady park where you can play badminton or lie on the grass. This is a venue for cultural events and concerts. The northern half of the island has hotels and restaurants. There is also the famous Prague Venice. From under the arch of the bridge with a view of the Certovka and the mill wheel you can take one of the most beautiful pictures of Prague.
The island also has its own palace - the Liechtenstein Palace.
How to get there: The island is easily accessible from Charles Bridge. If you come from the Old Place, then at the end of the bridge you need to go down the stairs to the left. If from the Mala Strana side, then at the beginning of the bridge down to the right.
View of Kampa Island from Charles Bridge.
The latest reconstruction of the buildings relates mainly to the Baroque style. The houses look very cozy.
Liechtenstein Palace.
Even as you approach the Kampa Museum, you are greeted by contemporary art.
The same plastic pebbles are crawling around the Žižkov television tower. Those who don't get there can view them here.
Side façade of the Kampa Museum.
This is what can happen if an old mill is converted into a museum of modern art!
The museum courtyard continues to surprise us with new art.
You can take such a picture if you cross under the Charles Bridge to the opposite side of the island and take a picture of Devil’s from under the small bridge.
The same wheel of the Velkoprzevorsk mill.
Prague Venice.
On Kampa you can find various monuments or sculptures.
Sculpture "Harmony". Indian humanist philosopher and preacher.
Various fairs are quite frequent on Kampa Square. French market.
Czech products.
Park on Kampe.
Kampa Island(Czech: Kampa) - located in the very center of the historical places of the Czech capital and is one of the three most interesting islands in the world located within the city. Kampa Island is one of the most romantic places for walks in Prague, located in the Lesser Town area. This island is located between two rivers: Vltava and Chertovka. The last river is narrow; a bridge leads across it to Kampa. You can also get to the island from the opposite side - through the Bridge of Legions. A small bridge is also located on the side of Maltese Square, near which there is a mill wheel.
The island began to be called Kampa back in 1770, but mention of it appeared long before that. Some chronicles mention him as early as 1169. There are several versions of the origin of this name, but none is officially recognized by historians. It received its official name only in 1977. It is believed that this name is related to the Spanish word “campa”, which translates as “camp”. Once upon a time there was indeed a Spanish military camp here, which settled after the defeat of the Czech people in the Battle of the White Mountain.
The Chertovka River, which washes Kampa on the southern side, was not originally called that way. Before that, it changed several names. Initially, the branch of the Vltava separating Kampa from the shore was called Strouga. Over different periods of time, this name changed depending on the owners of the mills that were installed on it. In addition, the river was also a laundry, and women from different parts of the island came to it. So, Aloisia Nemtsova lived in house number 476 on Maltezskaya Square. She was a scandalous woman, known for her sharp tongue. She was very different from the others in this way. Her house was called “At the Three Devils”. And later the river began to be called Chertovka.
Once upon a time, three water mills were installed on Chertovka. Only the wheels of two of them have survived to this day. One of them was founded in 1400 by the Knights of the Order of Malta. The facades of several houses overlook the banks of Chertovka, thereby creating the effect of “Prague Venice”. By the way, the Chertovka River itself flows out of the Vltava, and then itself flows into it. The river itself was created artificially to install mills. Therefore, we can say that the island is also artificial. There are always a lot of tourists around Kampa, but on the island itself, inside, it is almost always deserted.
The main attractions of the island are the Liechtenstein Palace, the John Lennon Wall, and the Kampa Museum. There are also several mills on the Chertovka River. The wheel from the old mill, which was mentioned earlier, is the Hut mill wheel (mlýn Huť). The John Lennon Wall appeared on Kampa in the early 80s. After his death, fans near the French Embassy began writing quotes from The Beatles songs, and even drew his portraits. There is a rumor that it was thanks to the request of the then French ambassador to the Czech government that these inscriptions and drawings were not painted over on the wall, because he was a fan of this group.
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Kampa Island | Tourists take pictures of a narrow street | Franz Kafka Museum | Kampa Island |
The island of Kampa was once the property of the archbishops, and their palace was located near the Charles Bridge in Mala Strana. In the 15th century, beautiful gardens and vineyards were laid out on the island. In 1541, when almost all of Prague burned down as a result of a fire, the remains of the burning buildings were brought to the island. Wealthy people did not dare invest in construction on this island, fearing that it would completely go under water. Therefore it was given to artisans. In the 17th century, the island became a center of pottery. Here artisans organized fairs of their products.
In addition to artisans, intelligent people also lived here. For example, the largest architects of Prague Kilian Dinzinghofer and Josef Zitek, linguist Josef Dobrovsky, poet Vladimir Golan, Czech animator Jiri Trnka. In honor of many such people, monuments have been erected on the island in the park.
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The narrowest street, two people can't pass each other | Chertovka River | Pissing man |
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Another main attraction of the island is the narrowest street in Prague. It is so narrow that two people cannot pass each other on it. Therefore, a traffic light is installed here, which determines the direction of movement of people. As a landmark, there is one balcony on the top floor of the house, which is called “Anna's House”. It gained fame after the major flood that occurred in 1892. The island was completely flooded and the water rose up to this balcony. A woman who was on this balcony caught a floating picture of the Virgin Mary. She began to pray for salvation, and the water began to subside. In gratitude, the woman hung an icon over her balcony and lit a lamp, which is still burning. The oil that gives light has now been replaced by the light bulb.
Today the island is home to expensive hotels and mansions, and a beautiful park. The Liechtenstein Palace is used to accommodate persons of high society, for example, persons from the dynasty of kings. Also, the babies of the architect David Černý from the Žižkov TV tower were recently installed on the island. Due to a flood in 2002, most of the island went under water, so many buildings are still under reconstruction.
Along the stairs located behind Tsvetaevsky’s beloved knight, you will find yourself on Kampa Island- in a place of stunning beauty, rightly nicknamed “Prague Venice”. The buildings seem to stretch upward from the water, reflected in the mirror surface. Kampa Island is separated from Mala Strana by a tributary Vltava, a river with an unusual name Devil. There are different interpretations of this name.
One interpretation of the names says that during the reign of Rudolph the Second, when the waters of the river were clear and transparent, laundresses who settled in the surrounding area washed the king’s clothes here. One of the laundresses was very angry and quarrelsome. The woman often provoked quarrels among neighbors, fights and brawls. This is why they began to call her “Devil.” The washerwoman was so convinced of the correctness of her nickname that she began to consider herself connected with evil spirits, and asked the painter to decorate her house with the image of devils. The artist was supposed to draw seven devils, but he depicted only six; the seventh devil meant the mistress of the house herself. After the death of the quarrelsome woman, the river was named after her nickname, since its waters were not quiet and calm.
There is another version of the origin of the name. If you believe her, then the matter was not with the washerwoman, but with the miller's wife, who lived in House "At the Seven Devils" and communicated with dark forces. This option may be true, since several mills were previously located in this area. They were erected in the 12th century by the Juhanite monks of the Order of Johann of Jerusalem. The inhabitants of this monastery maintained the bridge in order, restored it and collected a tax for its use. In those days the bridge was called Yuditin.
It was these monks who dug a canal for their own use, which later became a tributary of the Vltava River. This past is told by a wheel as a remnant of a wheel designed during the Renaissance (late 16th century) and functioning until 1936. Next to the wheel are marks of the water level of the most significant floods. From the notes it becomes clear that the flood of 2002 was the most destructive.
As for the name of the island itself, it was invented either by the Spanish soldiers who were here after they defeated Czech soldiers at the White Mountain, or by Italian legionnaires. The island was inhabited in the 15th century and was dotted with vineyards and fruit plantations until the mid-16th century. After the great fire in 1541, when almost all of Prague was destroyed in the fire, everything that survived from the burnt houses was brought to the island.
The island was strengthened, the terrain was leveled, and after that the construction of houses began here. At the very beginning, the rich were wary of investing resources in a shaky project: what if the land disappeared under water? For this reason, the lands were sold to artisans, who created their own town with a market square that has survived to this day. Since the 17th century, fairs of pottery masters have been held on the square, attracting competition from all over the kingdom.
If you visit Kampa on a non-market day, no problem. Souvenirs and small gifts, handmade by a craftsman, can be purchased in any small store. Enthusiasts can watch the process of making souvenirs directly in a specially designated area behind the shop.
Modern Kampa is a rather elite and expensive place with a wonderful park that occupies most of the island, between two bridges - and. There are restaurants and cafeterias, hotels and snack bars here. There are also representative offices of different countries: Malta, France and Estonia. The attraction is Cathedral of the Virgin Mary under the chain, which belongs to the Order of Malta and its knights. The island is home to the elite: prose writers, poets, artists and composers.
Like the rest of Prague, Kampe is haunted. At night, near the mill, where the souls of the drowned gather, the miller’s daughter walks, peering into their faces; The spirit of water also lives here. This ghost is dressed in a wet green coat and a headdress entangled in seaweed. Most often it is noticed in pubs, namely in the “Golden Scissors”, where the music in the room is not so loud.
What other attractions await you here? (Vinarna Chertovka). It is so narrow that it is unlikely that two people can walk along it at the same time. In order not to get stuck with someone in a narrow passage, a traffic light is installed at the beginning and end of the street, signaling whether it is possible to move forward.
The balcony on the top floor of one of the buildings, nicknamed "Anna's House". The legend about it is associated with a massive flood that occurred in 1892, a century before the last one. Kampa was flooded to a critical level. The water was level with Anna's balcony.
The woman didn't know what to do. Suddenly she saw an icon with the face of the Blessed Virgin floating nearby. Hanging from the balcony, Anna pulled the icon out of the water and began to pray for salvation. Her prayer was so sincere that the heavens heard it and the flood calmed down.
Grateful for her salvation, Anna attached the icon above her balcony and placed a lamp next to it, which never went out. It still burns to this day. Only the oil in the lamp was replaced by an electric lamp.
Fans of the Beatles can visit (though it’s not exactly on Kampa Island). After the musician's death in 1980, his fans in Prague founded an unusual monument. An ordinary city wall was covered with couplets from the Beatles' repertoire, poems in honor of Lennon, and painted with his images. This caused discontent among the authorities. The wall was whitewashed and access to it was fenced off.
This peculiar action would not have continued if the French ambassador, who worked at the embassy located next to the notorious wall, had not intervened. A fan of John Lennon's talent, he came out in defense of the unusual monument and took patronage of the local landmark.
Near the museum you will see bright sculptures: , . But in Kampa Park you will find the famous ().
