Zahrada U rozhledny Garden

Welcome to one of the most rare and shady places in Prague's Petřín. Right now, you're standing in the heart of the garden at the lookout, a space that will consume you with its green and calm. In front of you is a large area of two and a half hectares, which is not just an ordinary park for relaxation, but a rare cultural heritage of the whole Czech Republic. Feel this atmosphere, feel the colder, moist air, which remains longer due to dense vegetation and position on the plateau. Under your steps is a country that has experienced countless advances and decadence, and which carries traces of ancient times, from pagan rituals to modern urban architecture.

Let's go deeper into time together and find out what this place really is hiding. Before the first roads or stone buildings were built here, this mountain had a completely different character. According to the records of the famous chronicler Václav Hájek of Libočan, this entire space was considered a sacred grove in ancient times. Imagine a place where you couldn't hear the noise of the city, but just the rustling of old trees and the singing of birds. It was a place that was reserved for a god, where rituals were held and people touched the sacred one. This spiritual power of the place is still felt in its atmosphere, even though the surrounding world has not changed around it in a thousand years.

But the history of this place is full of dramatic twists. Time passes, and so does the faith of men. In the year nine hundred and ninety-two there was a fundamental fraction where a chapel of St. Lawrence was built in the place of the former pagan grove. With this act, the sacred forest began to turn into Christian space, but the old shadows were not completely lost. We must also look at the darker aspects of history that have taken place here. In the year one hundred and eight, this place was witnessed by tragic events, when members of prominent families, namely Vršovci and Slavíkovice, were executed at the Petříkovice execution site. This event has left a deep and undying trail in the history of this place, which reminds that every garden and every park can have its own, sometimes painful memory.

Now pay attention to what you see around you in a more modern architecture that defines the look of this garden today. If you look towards the dominance of this place, you will see the Petřín observation tower and the Mirror Maze. These buildings are not thousands of years old, but their creation was absolutely essential to the present form of the whole of Petřín. In the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-one, as part of the great Jubilee exhibition, there was a real architectural revolution. It was at that time that these buildings were built to celebrate the town's boom and bring visitors from all over the world. They created a space that combines entertainment, technical progress and the beauty of nature.

Looking at the individual elements of the garden you can see the precision with which the entire area has been modified over the centuries. In the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-three there was extensive garden modification, thanks to which this space was firmly connected with the neighbouring Seminar Garden. This process of creating a harmonious whole was the work of important architects who left their mark here. You can see here the influence of the work done by Jiří Braul, Ignác Palliardi or the Dientzenhofer family. Their work has helped to transform the wild, sacred grove into a cultivated but still magical space that today will please the eye of every visitor.

In this place, the fates of great personalities intersect. You can feel the presence of a prince's power and spiritual authority here. History tells us about characters like Prince Boleslav II. or Saint Vojtěch whose names are inextricably linked to this mountain. Feel also the influence of noble generations and personalities such as Karl Chotek, who participated in the formation of this region. Every character you go through here in spirit adds another layer to the rich story that's taking place here.

If you're looking for something that would really interest you and make you stop and think, focus on the secret that lies within the very foundation of this place. As you have heard, Václav Hájek z Libočan described Petrin as a place of ritual dedicated to God Perun. Imagine the ancient sacrifices, the ritual dances under the trees and the incredible power that people felt in this place. It is a fascinating idea that here, where people are now resting on benches or going through modified paths, there was once a connection with the heavens through the old gods. This mysterious energy, this shadow of ancient faith, is something that has never completely disappeared in this garden.

But now we will not keep you in one place. The garden at the observation tower is rich in details that deserve your time and attention. I suggest you continue on the paths that will guide you through different parts of this protected space. Take a look at the architecture of buildings around you, see how vegetation changes and how the view of the city that opens up from these heights changes. Every step can lead you to something new, to another detail that tells you the story of a human attempt to tame and celebrate nature.

Remember, you're standing in a place where history doesn't just read from books, but it smells in every piece of land and every wind that blows here. Enjoy this walk, let yourself be carried away by the beauty of this park and let yourself be surprised by all the things that this little piece of the world hides inside you. Thank you for choosing to explore this area with us. We wish you a pleasant rest of your visit and many wonderful experiences while continuing to discover these historical secrets.