The castle wants to make the Masaryk Outlook more accessible

PRAGUE - The administration of Prague Castle has called upon Czech architecture students to devise a new approach to Masaryk's viewpoint. This little-known place at the upper part of Jelení Příkop does have an access path, but many people circumvent it and look for paths in the slope. A total of 14 students from five Czech architecture faculties have signed up. They toured the site today with the president's wife, Livia Klausová, who is supporting the project.
Klausová reminded that the subject of modifications doesn’t have to be just the small structure itself but also the broader environment of the upper part of Jelení Příkop. According to its director Ivo Velíšek, the administration of Prague Castle is trying to open both parts of the moat linked by a new tunnel designed by architect Josef Pleskot more to the public. The slopes of the moat are already partially cleared of invasive trees; for example, there are plans for connecting the upper part of the moat with the street U Brusnice through a system of footbridges, similar to what is in place today in the lower part of the moat connected to Klárov.
Masaryk's viewpoint was opened to the public after reconstruction in 1996 on the occasion of a major exhibition dedicated to the Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik, who is the author of many reconstructions and modifications made to Prague Castle between 1920 and 1935. Masaryk's viewpoint is also one of his works.
President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk appointed Plečnik as the castle architect with the task of creating a new modern symbol of Czech statehood and democracy from the Castle. The architect deliberately suppressed national motifs in his architectural expression but fundamentally used Czech materials. He wanted to prove that they are of high quality and that it is unnecessary to import stone from Italy, for example.
Plečnik's modifications stylistically stemmed from classicism, but the architect also chose elements of Mediterranean architecture, influenced by Egypt, Assyria, Crete, Italy, and Greece. Plečnik altered the character of the castle's interiors, courtyards, and gardens. These include the Column Hall at Matthias Gate, the spaces of the New Palace with the president’s apartment, and he also had an impact on the modifications to the castle park in Lány.
The simple white semicircular wall of Masaryk's viewpoint, which borders a place dominated by an old linden tree, bears Plečnik's signature. Masaryk had a fondness for this place, after which the viewpoint is named.
Although the viewpoint has been accessible to the public for nearly ten years, not many people visit it. Thus, it remains one of the few spots where one can peacefully rest, reflect, and enjoy unusual views of St. Vitus Cathedral and other buildings within the castle complex. Visitors may encounter armed soldiers on their way to the viewpoint, as it is located near the Lumbe’s Villa, which was recently moved to by President Václav Klaus. However, according to Velíšek, security measures will not affect the architectural competition or the future appearance of the viewpoint's surroundings.
The student competition, or rather the selected best designs, will not be rewarded. The designs do not have guaranteed implementation; the castle administration primarily wants to gather ideas on how to improve the viewpoint.