Most visitors to Prague’s famous and beautiful castle enjoy the historic building and its links to Prague’s rich past. But most visitors don’t notice the gardens beneath the southern ramparts of the castle – and yet they’re missing one of Prague’s best kept secrets – a haven of peace and beauty in the midst of the busy city.
Zahrada na Valech – the Garden on the Ramparts has been protected as a Czech national cultural monument since 1962. But the first written record of the gardens goes back to the mid 16th century, when they were first put in place by Austrian archduke Ferdinand II, known as The Tyrolean. Originally there had been a moat in the position, but after he built what he called ‘Summer Rooms’ on the southern edge of the castle grounds, he wanted a garden that would reflect that idea. The gardens face the warmth of the south, protected from any chilly north winds by the giant bulwark of the castle. That meant Ferdinand could have thermophilic – warmth loving – plants in his summer gardens.
Today there are three entrances to the gardens – two at ground level and one from the castle itself. Being built up the side of the hill, there are some spectacular staircases, including one built by architect Jože Plečnik in the first half of the 20th century called the Bull Staircase because it is decorated with bronze sculptures of bulls. Much of the way the garden looks today is thanks to Plečnik who was tasked with transforming the grounds of Prague Castle into a suitable seat for Czechoslovak presidents. And the gardens offer fantastic views across the city.
Prague can be insanely busy, but the gardens are often very quiet and peaceful – on the day we visited we were the only people there. The gardens won won the prestigious Carlo Scarpa award in
2002 , which is awarded annually by the Benetton foundation to the world’s most important historical parks and gardens.
Getting there
The nearest light rail and bus station is Malostranské Náměstí, a 7 minute walk away. The nearest subway station is Malostranská, 8 minutes away. Admission is free.
