Prague Gardens

Get the full flavour of Indian summer, enjoy last summer sunrays in Prague gardens.

There are several gardens in the grounds of Prague Castle, which are open to the public free of charge. Whereas the North Garden is one of the historically most valuable, there is an enchanting view over the historical part of the city from the South Garden.
The largest garden of Prague Castle is the Royal Garden, where you can find such landmarks as the Royal Summer House (Belvedere), Ball Game Pavilion and the Lion Court (where lions were kept under rule of the Emperor Rudolph II). In the garden with Renaissance and Baroque elements, visitors admire hundred years old trees imported from abroad. The Royal Garden was founded by Ferdinand I. of Habsburg in 1534. From Prague Castle it is separated by the Stag Moat, which is open free of charge like all six gardens.
The Garden on the Terrace of the Riding School was built on the roof garages and car workshops of the President's Office from 1950-1956. The Garden on the Bastion covers an area at the entrance to the Spanish Hall.
Among South Gardens include the Paradise Garden, the Garden on the Ramparts and the Hartig Garden. All three gardens are interconnected and offer beautiful views on Prague from several terraces. The Hartig Garden serves as a place for concerts and theatrical performances.

Other Prague Gardens:
Palace Gardens
The Palace Gardens on the southern slopes of Hradčany, located beneath Prague Castle, are a link between the castle and the Malá Strana District. It is made up of five gardens and the Ledeburg Garden Gallery.

The Large Fürstenbersk Garden in Prague
The Large Fürstenberk Garden beneath Prague Castle covering an area of 1.5 ha offers walking through its terraces and enjoy the view of Malá Strana, as well as of the whole of Prague. The garden forms a part of the Palace gardens and is adjacent to the Polish Embassy. The terraced garden was founded by Václav Kazimír Netolický in the 18th century after vinyards were removed. In the 1920s, the Fürstenberks bought the palace and the garden. It was confiscated by the state following World War II.

The Vrtbovská Garden
On the slopes of Petřín Hill you can visit one of the most attractive and significant Baroque gardens in Prague, the Vrtbovská Garden. It’s sometimes said that this is one of the most beautiful gardens of this type north of the Alps.
This terraced garden of Italian design was built for Jan Josef, Earl of Vrtby in 1715-1720. The garden is decorated with statues by Matyáš Bernard Braun. The grand spaces can be used for various gatherings and events. The Vrtbovská Garden is open daily from April to October from 10 am until 6 pm.

Valdštejn Garden
One of the most distinctive buildings of the Czech early Baroque is the Valdštejn Garden in the grounds of Valdštejn Palace in Malá Strana in Prague. The site is the headquarters of the Senate of the Czech Republic. The garden has become not only a pleasant place to have a rest, but thanks to the activities of the Senate, also a cultural centre, because a great number of cultural events take place here over the course of the year, most of them are free. In the garden you can see three fountains, a few embossed vases, and imitation of original sculptures from the Dutch sculptor Adriaen de Vries. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the artificial stalactite wall with grottos (caves).

Open Doors Day to the garden of the Czernin Palace
You have a rare opportunity to visit the garden of the Czernin Palace on the occasion of Czech Statehood Day on Tuesday 28 September 2010. During the event there will be available brochures on the history of the garden and the Czernin Palace.