Chotek Gardens is an English-style park in Prague’s Hradčany district, beside Prague Castle’s Royal Gardens. Laid out in 1832, it has old trees, lawns and paths, with views across the city from its southeast corner. Look for Josef Mauder’s grotto, created in memory of poet Julius Zeyer, and the nearby Queen Anne’s Summer Palace. It’s a peaceful place for a walk or a spring and summer picnic, and a useful stop between the castle area and Letná.
A public garden beside the castle
Chotek Gardens was created in 1832, when Count Karel Chotek converted a timber and hay depot near Prague Castle into an English-style garden. Its paths and lawns made green space available to the city beside the seat of power.
The park lies close to Prague Castle’s Royal Gardens and Letná Park. It can form part of a walk linking the castle area with the city centre, though routes descending toward Malá Strana can be unclear and may bring you back to the garden.
The grotto and nearby buildings
Josef Mauder’s grotto, made in 1931 for poet Julius Zeyer, is among the park’s distinctive features. Marble figures drawn from Zeyer’s mystical and tragic writing gather beneath dark rock.
Nearby, the Fíkovna is a Renaissance glasshouse dating to 1572, once used to grow figs. Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, built in 1538, is also close by. Its arcades face both the Royal Garden and the Deer Moat. The building is sometimes called the Belvedere, a name that has long been applied to it incorrectly.
FAQ
Where is Chotek Gardens?
It is in Prague’s Hradčany district, beside Prague Castle’s Royal Gardens and near Letná Park.
What can you see in Chotek Gardens?
The park has old trees, lawns, Josef Mauder’s grotto for Julius Zeyer and views over the city. The nearby Fíkovna and Queen Anne’s Summer Palace are also worth noting.
How do you get to Chotek Gardens?
Hradčanská metro station and tram routes provide access to the area.
When is a good time to visit Chotek Gardens?
Spring and summer are suited to picnics and walks through the park.
