Hunger Wall

Why go

The wall is easiest to appreciate while crossing Petřín's paths: its long line through the slope shows how the city once defended Malá Strana and the castle approaches. Its popular famine story is a legend, while its defensive purpose is clear.

What to look for

• A surviving stone wall cuts across the Petřín hillside.
• Its course follows the former defensive edge above Malá Strana.
• Garden paths let you encounter different stretches of the fortification.

The full story

Charles IV ordered the wall built across Petřín Hill in the 1360s to strengthen the western and southern approaches to Prague Castle and Malá Strana. Its line still helps explain the shape of the hillside: the fortification was placed where an attacker might approach from above. The name Hunger Wall is tied to a story that construction provided work and food during a famine. Prague City Tourism presents that account as a legend, so it should not replace the wall's military purpose. The wall has been repaired and altered over many centuries, but enough remains to make it a clear landmark as you cross the gardens. Following even a short stretch gives a more direct sense of the old defensive landscape than looking at it from one fixed point.

Useful to know

• Look for the wall while walking between Petřín's gardens and upper sights.
• Treat it as part of a hillside route, with time for the slope and changing paths.

Your next visit

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