The 11 Most Beautiful Gardens in Prague - and the GIYOU GARDEN
May 9, 2024
There are many charming gardens and parks in Prague which give the locals and tourists something the rest of the city doesn’t - escape to an oasis of peace and natural beauty, imbued with a sense of deep history. Some are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list and are among the most beautiful gardens in Europe. This guide to a few selected and the best gardens in Prague contains our tips and information on the most beautiful, interesting, worth-a-visit gardens right in the city centre. And while you’re wandering about, you might even discover another, rather unusual garden - the GIYOU GARDEN.
Hidden gems of Bohemia - the most interesting gardens in the heart of Prague
The Royal Garden of Prague
Many of Prague’s remarkable gardens are located by what were originally seats of kings and nobles. Theses gardens used to delight the royal and noble families, sometimes serving the practical function of growing plants and food, being used as a background for significant private and official events, and fulfilling a representative purpose.
Over the centuries, gardens have been born out of the need to create a world that would be more beautiful and more fertile than the one we live in. They’re a place of growing, hedonism, reality, meditation, play of senses and experiences, representation, aesthetic, and learning. And always refreshment.
Silver and gold garden
And if you feel like it, while you’re wandering around the beautiful gardens of Prague, you might want to discover another of the city’s hidden gems, one you won’t encounter anywhere else in the world - GIYOU GARDEN, a unique garden of silver and golden flowers.
Tips on 11 Most Beautiful Gardens in the Heart of Prague
TAKING A WALK AROUND THE PRAGUE CASTLE
1. The Royal Garden at the Prague Castle
The 3.6 ha Royal Garden, separated from the Prague Castle by the Deer Moat, is located in the Hradčany district. It was established in 1534 by Ferdinand I, at a place originally occupied by medieval vineyards. The space is divided into different sections which have been rebuilt over the years. The garden was designed in the Renaissance style, with multiple structures added over time - most importantly the Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, the Ball Games Hall, the statues of Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff and J. J. Bendl, or the Eduard Beneš Villa.
Additional information and a map of the Royal Garden is available on the official website of the Prague Castle here.
Photo: Royal Garden, Wikipedia, by Prazak - own work, CC BY 2.5
MORE GARDENS AT THE PRAGUE CASTLE
2. The Paradise Garden, Na Valech, Hartig Gardens
There are multiple public gardens in the castle complex of Prague Castle, including the Paradise Garden, the Na Valech garden, or the Hartig Gardens. All three are inter-connected and their observation terraces offer beautiful views of the city. The terrace of the Hartig Gardens is a frequent site of concerts and theatre performances. The Hartig Gardens themselves are notable for not having any lawns, only ivy. They’re not open to the public.
For better reference, download a map of the Prague Castle here.
Photo: Hartig Gardens, Wikipedia, by Sokoljan - own work, CC BY 2.5
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL (BAROQUE) GARDEN IN PRAGUE
3. The Vrtba Garden
In our opinion, the Vrtba Garden is the most beautiful baroque garden in Prague, with a beautiful view of the downtown and full of baroque statues, including the most well-known one- the statue of Eros with a flying dolphin. The palace garden was established for Jan Josef, the count of Vrba, around 1720. The statues decorating the garden were made by Matthias Bernard Braun.
You can reach the garden by going through the inconspicuous entrance from the Karmelitská Street in the Malá Strana district (a 5-minute walk from the end of the Charles Bridge in Malá Strana, or a 3-minute walk from the Malostranské square).
After visiting the garden, take a stroll around the charming Malá Strana district and see the Saint Nicholas Church or the Maltézské square. You can also rent the garden to hold social events for up to 400 people.
Photo: Vrtbovská zahrada , Wikipedia, by Juan de Vojníkov - own work, CC BY 2.5
THE CHARM OF PALACE GARDENS
4. Gardens below the Prague Castle
You can find them below the Prague Castle in the direction of the Malá Strana district. They consist of five gardens in total, plus the Ledebour Gardens Gallery. The gardens are a part of a single sightseeing tour. The Ledebour Gardens, the Little Pálffy Garden, the Great Pálffy Garden, and the Little Fürstenberg Garden are open to the public.
The Ledebour Gardens are connected to an abundantly stuccoed gallery where social events are held. The gardens are right next to the Ledebour Palace, the seat of the National Heritage Institute which is in charge of the Palace Gardens. The complex of terrace gardens, full of pavilions and small architectural features, enchants visitors with their captivating romantic mood, further strengthened with the beautiful view of Prague it offers. The gardens below the Prague Castle and their terraces are also sought after as a venue for weddings and other social events.
All of the gardens are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Additional information on the Palace Gardens (including a map) is available on the website of the National Heritage Institute here.
Photo: Palace gardens, Wikipedia, by Pastorius
FOR A PEACEFUL WALK
5. The Kinský Garden
The 22 ha garden (sometimes also called The Kinský Orchard) is located on a slope of the Petřín Hill and is separated by the rest of the Petřín Gardens by the Hunger Wall. It was established between 1828 and 1861 to supplement the Empire-style summer residence, and designed in the style of the English Romanticism.
The main entrance is in the Kinských Square but there are additional entrances as well, including a few in the Hunger Wall, opening from the neighbouring Nebozízek Garden. The Kinský Garden houses the Kinských Residence, the home to the ethnographic exhibition of the National Museum.
Photo: The Kinský Garden in the autumn, Wikipedia
THE MALÁ STRANA OASIS
6. The Wallenstein Garden
In terms of size, the Wallenstein Garden in downtown Prague comes only second to the gardens of the Prague Castle. It was designed in the style of Italian mannerist parks. It has the largest sala terrena in the city, an artificial dripstone cave (grotto), a large pool with an artificial island, a greenhouse, the Wallenstein riding hall, and multiple statues and fountains.
You can enter the garden from the Letenská Street, or through a gate by the Malostranská underground station. The garden is a part of the seat of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
Photo: The Wallenstein Garden, Wikipedia by VitVit - own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
GARDEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC
7. The Straka Academy garden
The Straka Academy, the seat of the Government of the Czech Republic, is surrounded by the Straka Academy garden, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are many plants, statues, and a water fountain. The garden is open to the public on Saturdays only. It underwent a large reconstruction from 2021 to 2022.
Photo: Statue of the Libyan Sibyl in the garden by the Straka Academy in Prague, Wikipedia, by Marie Čcheidzeová
HIDDEN GEM BY THE LORETA
8. The Czernin Palace garden
The garden was established in the 17th century, along with the baroque Czernin Palace, the current seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The garden is located near the Prague Castle, in the Loretánské square where you can also enter it. The Czernin Palace garden is arranged in terraces and includes various fountains, statues, and lawns. Several prominent architects of the time participated in creating it, among others Francesco Caratti and Domenico Rossi. In the 19th century, it was restored and re-designed in the style of English parks.
The Prague Loreta in the Loretánské Square has a tower with a famous chime—the largest historic church chime in Europe. Behind the Loreta, there is a courtyard with pilgrimage arcades and the Church of the Nativity. The complex is inter-connected with a Capuchin cloister, the Loreta’s administrator.
Photo: Wikipedia, Hradčany, the Czernin Palace, with the summer residence in front of the the Czernin Palace, by Daniel Baránek
THE ROMANTIC NATURE OF SMALL GARDENS
9. The Sternberg Palace garden (in the Hradčany district)
The Sternberg Palace (in the Hradčany district; not to be confused with the Sternberg Palace in the Malostranské Square) conceals a small, but all the more interesting romantic garden. Exploring it will provide an unforgettable experience especially to art lovers, housing as it does examples of the Czech 20th century sculpture, including statues and sculptures by Jan Štursa, Vincenc Makovský, or Josef Kaplický.
The Sternberg Palace also houses the permanent exposition of the National Gallery in Prague, and is a venue for classical concerts. Additional information on the Sternberg Palace is available on the National Gallery website.
Photo: The Sternberg Palace, the Deer Moat, Wikepedia, by Dobroš
THE LOVERS’ GARDEN
10. The Petřín Garden
The Petřín Garden takes up an extensive area, stretching from a slope of the Petřín Hill to the Malá Strana, Strahov, and Smíchov districts. It includes the Seminary and Nebozízek Garden, as well as the Petřín Lookout Tower and the Saint Lawrence Church.
You can also enjoy the charming Rose Orchard and Květnice Garden (with around 7800 roses covering the area of ca 6 hectares), the Petřín Lookout Tower, or the Mirror Maze. North of the peak of the Petřín Hill you’ll find the Great Strahov Garden and the Lobkowicz Garden. The Petřín Garden offers stunning views of Prague and is open to the public all year round.
Photo: The Baby Jesus Chapel in the Seminary Garden, Wikepedia, by ŠJů (cs:ŠJů)
OASIS IN THE NEW TOWN
11. The Franciscan Garden
Unlike the other gardens on this list, the Franciscan Garden is located in the New Town district, between the Jungmann and Wenceslas Squares and the Vodičkova Street, near the Church of Our Lady of the Snows. You can reach it by taking the entrance in the Jungmann Square or the passages in the Wenceslas Square and the Vodičkova Street.
It was established next to a Franciscan (originally Carmelite) monastery and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows as a utility garden. It’s a unique natural oasis in the heart of the city, much favoured by the locals. In the charming intimate garden, you’ll find hedgerows, roses, benches, a sculpted fountain, and most importantly - peace.
And if you’re in the mood to see an extraordinary garden you won’t find anywhere else in the world, the GIYOU GARDEN, full of silver and golden flowers, is just a few steps away from the Franciscan garden.
Photo: The Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Prague, Wikipedia, by VitVit
GIYOU GARDEN IN THE HEART OF PRAGUE
Discover the hidden gems of Czechia and the delicate grace of flowers growing in our silver, golden, or Royal garden. The GIYOU garden was inspired by a garden surrounding a charming historic homestead in Bohemia. And just like fresh gardens, GIYOU was born from the desire to create an enriching space where a mere walk would be an unforgettable experience, giving you access to the delight and usefulness of the masterful flowers growing there. The flowers are handmade, using a precise jewellery-making technique. And the staff of the Czech family business making them would love to be your personal guide and share their passion with you.
GIYOU
info@giyou.cz
