Vrtba Garden

The garden was created in 1720 for the Vrtba Palace, built by the Earl of Vrtba, Jan Joseph. It was designed as an Italian style terraced garden by František Maximilán Kănka. Construction of the garden took five years.

Situated on a hill, the garden is divided into several terraces, connected to each other by staircases. The lowest part is enclosed on three sides by the palace and features a small fountain with a sculpture of a putti and a dragon at its center.

On the south side of the lower terrace is the Sala Terrena, a portal connecting the palace with the garden. It is decorated with beautiful frescoes painted by Václav Vavřinec Reiner. The wing opposite the Sala Terrena houses an aviary.

The lower terrace is connected to the middle terrace by two staircases behind doors. Here you find beautifully designed flower beds flanking a small circular pool.

A baroque wall decorated with eight statues divides the middle and upper terrace, which can be reached via an ornamented staircase with two wings. The statues of ancient gods were designed by sculptor Matthias Braun.

The upper terrace leads to yet another staircase which culminates in a small building fronted by a blind arch which is decorated with bas-reliefs of water gods. Originally the center of the arch was decorated with a fresco.

Inside the building is a staircase (yes, another one) which brings you to a balcony from where you have a magnificent view of not just the garden but also Lesser Town and the Prague Castle.

The garden is situated behind the Vrtba palace. It can be reached by walking through a porch on Karmelitská street and walking straight ahead through a countyard.