Fortification that shows up on rock of the right bank of the Vltava River is about a century older than Prague Castle. According to a legend it was founded by the legendary Prince Krok. At the end of 11th century it was the seat of Prince Vratislav II. Over time Vyšehrad became in particular a fort guarding Prague from the south.
Vyšehrad Castle, together with lower catle, used to be a self-governing city between 15 and 19th centuries. The complex joined Prague in 1883.
In the complex of Vyšehrad Castle one can find the church of St. Peter and Paul, Slavín cemetery where several prominent Czech personalities have been burried as well as St. Martin’s Rotunda.
Several legends are connected to Vyšehrad. One of the legends says that it is a castle that was built on a steep rock by order of Prince Krok when he was looking for a safer place for his seat. Then, when Prince Krok died, his daughter Libuše took over the reign which was disliked by the men who did not support rule of women. Therefore, Libuše sent a horse and messengers to bring her the one man by whom the horse stops. This man was Přemysl who was just ploughing field when the horse stopped by him. He became the fourth ruler of the Czech people and was called Přemysl Ploughman.
Another legend tells of a knight Horymír who was imprisoned in Vyšehrad during the rule of Prince Křesomysl. The last wish Horymír made before his death was to ride his faithful horse Šemík. The closed gates were of no use as Šemík managed to leap over the walls and jumped with the brave knight right into the Vltava River.