Petrin Gardens are one of the largest gardens in Prague. They are situated at the Petrin Hill between the Lesser Town and Strahov. There are several places of interest there, which makes it an ideal place for a walk and relaxation. You can see Prague panorama from the Petrin Lookout Tower and then visit the Mirror Maze or the Stefanik Observatory. A funicular will take you there and you can enjoy the beautiful view over Prague from your cabin when it will carry you up.
Hunger Wall
The name of the hill “Petrin” has probably an origin in the Latin word “Petrus” (Rocks). There used to be forests in the medieval times. A vineyard replaced it later. Charles IV. had the so-called Hunger Wall built there by poor people in the 14 th century: it is said, that he wanted to give some work to those, who suffered from hunger at the time of bad crops. The Hunger Wall is 1178 metres long and about 8 metres high. There is a romantic view point “Citadel” there.
There are several gardens at the Petrin Hill: the Lobkowicz Garden, Nebozizek, the Rose Garden, the Lookout Tower Park and the Seminary Garden.
The terrace Lobkowicz Garden is the oldest one of them, it belongs to the German Embassy in the Lobkowicz Palace and it is not accessible to the public.
Nebozizek Garden
The Nebozizek Garden is situated between the Ujezd area under the hill, the Hunger Wall and the funicular. There is a restaurant Nebozizek, built up anew recently on the remains of the original building. A popular restaurant used to be there already in the 19 th century. The well-known statue of Czech Romanticist poet Karel Hynek Macha stands in the Nebozizek Garden. It was made in 1911 by Josef Vaclav Myslbek. The area around it is a favourite place for walks and dates of young couples.
Rose Garden
The Rose Garden (Rosarium) is situated at the table-land of the Petrin Hill. It is bounded by the walls of Baroque fortification of Prague from the 17 th century on one side, and by the Hunger Wall on the other side. There is a rosarium in a shape of an opened fan, a rounded rosarium and a parterre. A sculpture representing Sense and sensibility embellishes the garden.
Lookout Tower Park
The Lookout Tower Park surrounds the popular Petrin Tower, built in 1891. You will find there also the St. Lawrence Church, the Holy Sepulchre Chapel, the Calvary Chapel and the “14 stations of the cross”, that will lead you to the Strahov Garden. The Mirror Maze in the park is a must-see, especially if you would like to have a laugh: you can see your picture deformed in various bulging mirrors there.
Seminary Garden
The Seminary Garden used to be a monastery garden of the White Friars from the Church of Our Lady of Victory. They made the little caves in the rocks in the upper part. It was a garden of an archiepiscopal seminary since the 18 th century, after the monastery was abolished by Joseph II. Fruit trees were set there at the beginning of the 20 th century. You can see a bronze monument of renowned Czech writer Jan Neruda there.
