The smallest Vltava island in Prague measures just 60 m × 10 m and is called Petržilka Island (Petržilkovský ostrov). It lies next to Children's Island at Janáček Embankment, very close to Jirásek Bridge. It is not open to the public.
During the Hussite Wars, the Old Town also seized part of Kampa and the Lesser Town's Vltava banks. The Lesser Town therefore had to build its own water tower outside the city. They took advantage of the fact that in 1483 the New Town allowed Lesser Town burgher Jan Petržilka to build a new mill, on the burnt-out site of the Carthusian monastery's mill, destroyed during the Hussite uprising.
In 1502 the Lesser Town municipality also built a waterworks and a wooden water tower here, later rebuilt in brick and stone. From 1547 to 1561 the island was confiscated by King Ferdinand I of Habsburg. In 1859 the island was bought by the Prague municipality.
During the construction of the Smíchov Lock, part of Petržilka Island was attached to Children's Island and the rest was significantly reduced.
You can see Petržilka Island from the deck of our boats and steamboats, for example during our Prague Grand Cruise, which also includes a passage through the Smíchov Lock.
