Hladová zeď

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Hladová zeď (The Hunger Wall) is a medieval defence wall in Prague, today's Czech Republic. It was built on Petřín Hill during 1360 - 1362 by order of Charles IV.

Marl from quarries on Petřín Hill was used as construction material . Purpose of the construction was to strengthen fortifications of Prague Castle and Malá Strana against attack from the west or south. Originally the wall was 4-4.5 meters high and 1.8 meter wide, was equipped with battlement and with (probably) eight bastions.

The wall was repaired in 1624, further strengthened in the middle of 18th century and repaired or modified several times later (in modern era in 1923-25 and 1975). One of preserved bastions serves as a base for the dome of Štefánik Observatory.

[edit] The name and associated myths

The wall was originally called Zubatá (with teeth) or Chlebová (bread like), the adjective Hladová (hunger) has appeared after famine in 1361, when the building provided livelihood for city poor. According to myths, the purpose of the wall was not strategic but to feed the poor. Another myth, recorded in writings of Václav Hájek z Libočan or Bohuslav Balbín, is that the Emperor (Charles IV) himself had worked here several hours every day "to help his beloved people".

Although the myths associated with the wall are naive and false, in Czech language of recent era the term hladová zeď turned into derogatory synonym of useless public works.