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Výstaviště: the iron palace and the exhibition grounds

An 1891 iron-and-glass hall, a musical fountain, and a panorama painting the length of a battlefield.

Photo: User:ŠJů / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Drafted by Claude — the editor hasn’t walked this one yet. We’ll update this notice once it’s been verified on the ground.

Distance

3 km

Time

~ 70 min

Difficulty

Easy

Start

Výstaviště (tram)

End

Nádraží Holešovice (metro C)

Best at

afternoon

Right now

21°C· Partly cloudy

Open in Maps for turn-by-turn, or take it offline as GPX.

Výstaviště is what's left of the moment Prague threw itself a party. The grounds were built for the 1891 Jubilee Exhibition, and the great iron palace at the centre has been hosting fairs, concerts and ice hockey ever since — a Victorian fairground that never quite stopped running. Three flat kilometres, heavy on iron and glass.

Start at the Výstaviště tram and walk straight in to the Průmyslový palác, the Industrial Palace: 1891, a riveted cathedral of arches and a central clock tower, the left wing rebuilt after a 2008 fire. Stand well back to take the whole span. Behind it sits the Křížíkova fontána, the musical fountain, named for the engineer who first lit the city — quiet by day, a light show after dark in season.

Then the two oddities that make the walk. The Lapidárium holds the real stone saints lifted off Charles Bridge for safekeeping, almost always empty. The Maroldovo panorama wraps you inside a single huge battle painting from 1898. Slip out into the edge of Stromovka for a last few trees, then back to Nádraží Holešovice for the metro.

The route

On the map.

A soft dashed line, numbered stops. It’s a suggestion, not a turn-by-turn.

Elevation

↑ 44 m·↓ 42 m·185–197 m ASL

Stops along the way

Things to notice.

01
1
Výstaviště Holešovice
The exhibition grounds, laid out for the 1891 Jubilee Exhibition and still running fairs and concerts. Walk in past the gates; the whole site has a faded-fairground charm that's better the less you expect of it.
01
Výstaviště Holešovice
The exhibition grounds, laid out for the 1891 Jubilee Exhibition and still running fairs and concerts. Walk in past the gates; the whole site has a faded-fairground charm that's better the less you expect of it.
02
2
Průmyslový palác (Industrial Palace)
The centrepiece: a cathedral of iron and glass from 1891, all riveted arches and a clock tower. The left wing burned in 2008 and has been rebuilt; stand back and take in the span. This is the reason to come.
02
Průmyslový palác (Industrial Palace)
The centrepiece: a cathedral of iron and glass from 1891, all riveted arches and a clock tower. The left wing burned in 2008 and has been rebuilt; stand back and take in the span. This is the reason to come.
03
3
Křížíkova fontána (Křižík musical fountain)
The musical fountain behind the palace, named for the engineer who lit Prague. By day it's a quiet pool; in season it runs evening light-and-water shows. Check times if you want the show — by afternoon you're here for the architecture, not the spray.
03
Křížíkova fontána (Křižík musical fountain)
The musical fountain behind the palace, named for the engineer who lit Prague. By day it's a quiet pool; in season it runs evening light-and-water shows. Check times if you want the show — by afternoon you're here for the architecture, not the spray.
04
4
Lapidárium
The National Museum's collection of original stone sculpture — the real medieval and baroque statues pulled off bridges and facades for safekeeping, replaced outdoors by copies. The *Lapidárium* is where the actual Charles Bridge saints have ended up. Quiet, cool, and almost always empty.
04
Lapidárium
The National Museum's collection of original stone sculpture — the real medieval and baroque statues pulled off bridges and facades for safekeeping, replaced outdoors by copies. The *Lapidárium* is where the actual Charles Bridge saints have ended up. Quiet, cool, and almost always empty.
05
5
Maroldovo panorama
The circular pavilion housing a vast 360-degree painting of the 1434 Battle of Lipany. A single enormous canvas wrapped around you — odd, Victorian, and worth the few minutes. Limited opening, so don't build the day around it.
05
Maroldovo panorama
The circular pavilion housing a vast 360-degree painting of the 1434 Battle of Lipany. A single enormous canvas wrapped around you — odd, Victorian, and worth the few minutes. Limited opening, so don't build the day around it.
06
6
The edge of Stromovka
Slip out the western side into the top of *Stromovka*, the great park, for a few minutes of trees before you turn for the metro. A green full stop on a day of iron and glass.
06
The edge of Stromovka
Slip out the western side into the top of *Stromovka*, the great park, for a few minutes of trees before you turn for the metro. A green full stop on a day of iron and glass.
07
7
Nádraží Holešovice
Walk back east to *Nádraží Holešovice* for the metro C, or pick up a tram at *Výstaviště* if your feet have had enough.
07
Nádraží Holešovice
Walk back east to *Nádraží Holešovice* for the metro C, or pick up a tram at *Výstaviště* if your feet have had enough.

Výstaviště: the iron palace and the exhibition grounds

On the map.

Things to notice.

Výstaviště Holešovice

Výstaviště Holešovice

Průmyslový palác (Industrial Palace)

Průmyslový palác (Industrial Palace)

Křížíkova fontána (Křižík musical fountain)

Křížíkova fontána (Křižík musical fountain)

Lapidárium

Lapidárium

Maroldovo panorama

Maroldovo panorama

The edge of Stromovka

The edge of Stromovka

Nádraží Holešovice

Nádraží Holešovice

Two more, on similar days.

Stromovka: the great park and the chateau across the river

Letná: the plateau, the plinth, and the metronome