Vyšehrad lies to the southeast of the city centre, set apart from the tourist currents of the Old Town by both distance and character. The fortress above the Vltava is older than Prague Castle as a seat of power, as ancient as legend, and in Dan Brown's novel dramatically different from the busy scenes on the right bank. This third route deliberately stands outside the city centre and should not be combined with the previous clusters. Vyšehrad calls for its own unhurried visit.
Stops
Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul
The Neo-Gothic twin towers of the basilica dominate the entire Vyšehrad plateau and are visible from much of Prague. The interior ranks among the most richly decorated sacred spaces in Bohemia, its walls and vaults covered with Art Nouveau paintings by František Sequens. In the novel the basilica serves as both a landmark and a place where the story's key threads converge. Entry is ticketed.
Bastion U Božích muk
This remote projection of the fortress walls on the northwestern edge of Vyšehrad is the setting for the novel's darkest and most intense scene. The bastion lies well off the main tourist paths and retains the character of an abandoned fortification — massive stonework, a view over the river, and complete silence. Entry is free.
Folimanka
Folimanka park stretches below the northern walls of Vyšehrad on the hillside above the Nusle valley. In the novel it forms the transition between the fortress complex and the surrounding city — the place where Brown's characters move beyond the protection of the fortification walls. Access from Vyšehrad follows a sloping path along the ramparts. Entry is free.
Bunker beneath Folimanka
Beneath Folimanka park lies one of the least known structures in Prague's underground — a Cold War-era nuclear shelter built as part of the civil defence system. In the novel the subterranean spaces beneath Folimanka serve as the setting for a pivotal scene whose weight rests on the contrast between the idyllic park above and the dark corridors below. Entry is possible only as part of an organised tour.
Practical Information
Recommended time: 3–4 hours | Transport: Metro C, Vyšehrad station (5 minutes on foot to the fortress gate) | Entry to the fortress complex: free, at all times | Entry to the basilica: ticketed | Bunker beneath Folimanka: organised tours only, advance booking required
Tip: Vyšehrad is at its most beautiful early in the morning or at dusk, when the tourists have gone and the paths are nearly empty. We recommend starting at the basilica, moving towards the bastions, and descending into Folimanka as the final stop — the descent mirrors the novel's dramatic arc from light into darkness.