Shooters' Island (Střelecký ostrov) sits roughly in the middle of the river. Legion Bridge connects it to the right-bank Masaryk and Smetana embankments and the left-bank Janáček Embankment. Administratively it belongs to the Old Town.
The first records of the island date back to the 12th century and it was then known as Trávník ("the Lawn"). Initially it was owned by the Knights Hospitaller and used as a garden. Under Charles IV, Prague's marksmen had a training ground here for shooting with bows and crossbows. From the 18th century, St John's Day celebrations were held here with shooting and fireworks. This shooting tradition gave the island its name. In 1882 the 1st All-Sokol Rally took place here in front of 2,500 spectators. In 1890 the first May Day in Bohemia was celebrated here.
On the site of a wooden shooting range, the Prague Marksmen Corps built a new Empire-style brick building with an inn in 1812. In 1842 the building was renovated and extended with a terrace, café and loggia. A cinema hall was built on the upper floor. Today it is a state-protected cultural monument.
In the mid-19th century the original tree-lined avenue was extended and a brick restaurant was built on the island, still standing today. The inn building, although it stands across the river's flow, survived the floods of both 1890 and 2002.
Until 1841, a ferry provided the connection to the banks. Between 1839 and 1841, the chain Bridge of Emperor Francis I was suspended across the island; later it was replaced by Legion Bridge. A monumental staircase descends from the south side of the bridge to the island. Since 2008, a small seasonal Prague 4 ferry runs from the right side of the island, connecting it with Smetana Embankment, Slavonic Island and Children's Island.
Today, in addition to the restaurant, the island has various sports facilities and a public park. Festivals, open-air concerts and similar cultural events are occasionally held here.
The island reopened in 2013 after a major reconstruction. The path network was renewed, the island was newly equipped with benches and play features, and the greenery was restored. The island has step-free access via a lift.
We will take you on a cruise alongside Shooters' Island for example during the Prague Grand Cruise, the lunch cruise or the dinner cruise. We can recommend these cruises because they also include a passage through the Smíchov Lock.
