Castle park in Jičín

Castle Park in Jičín stretches south of the town's castle building and ranks among the most recognizable green spaces in this part of the Czech Republic. It brings together seventeenth-century architecture with a modern park layout, making it a popular stop for travelers exploring the Český ráj region as well as for locals looking for a quiet place to walk.

How did the park come to be?

The castle itself was built in 1608, but within about a dozen years the building suffered serious damage in a fire. It was rebuilt in 1633, during the era when Albrecht von Wallenstein held sway over the town and its surroundings. The park that today wraps around the castle's southern side developed much later than the residence itself — for a long stretch of history, the grounds attached to the castle were left overgrown and without any real design.

That changed in the second half of the 1930s, when the town of Jičín purchased the castle together with its grounds from the Trauttmansdorff family, the last aristocratic owners of the estate. It was this change of ownership that opened the door to turning the former castle garden into a proper municipal park.

Who designed the park's current layout?

The first proposals for redesigning the grounds date to 1937. Two names competed for the commission: landscape architect B. Ducháč-Vyskočil and architect Čeněk Musil. Musil's project, executed in a classicizing style, won out and became the basis for transforming the neglected garden into an orderly park with a clear composition. His plan gave the park much of the character still recognizable today, even though the grounds have gone through further changes since then.

What does the park look like today?

The park's present form is the result of a thorough renovation completed in 2010. That project visually reconnected the different sections of the grounds into a coherent whole. Along the park's perimeter, historic elements tied to the former residence were preserved and highlighted — the castle building itself, baroque gates, and remnants of the old fortifications and defensive walls. A walk through the park therefore doubles as a walk through the site's history, from the Wallenstein era to the present.

Beyond its recreational role, the park also functions as a cultural venue. It regularly hosts concerts and outdoor events, often staged in the evening under festive lighting that plays off the surrounding architecture. Thanks to its scenery — the castle, greenery, and historic walls all in one frame — the park has also become a favored spot for wedding ceremonies.

Who is this park for?

Castle Park in Jičín works equally well as a short stop on a walking tour of the town or as a place to unwind during a longer trip through Český ráj. Its proximity to the castle makes it easy to pair a walk through the grounds with a visit to the castle itself, and the calm, orderly layout of greenery offers a clear contrast to the busier town center nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the park located? It lies directly south of the castle building in Jičín, in the town's central area.

When did the park take on its current shape? Its present form dates from a 2010 renovation, though the underlying classicizing composition was laid out by architect Čeněk Musil in the 1930s.

What can visitors see besides the greenery itself? Baroque gates and remnants of historic fortifications and walls survive along the park's perimeter, with the castle building visible in the background.

Are there events held in the park? Yes — the park hosts concerts and outdoor cultural events, and it is also a popular venue for wedding ceremonies.

Is the park a good spot for weddings or photography? Yes, thanks to its combination of the castle, baroque gates, and historic walls, it is frequently chosen as a setting for wedding ceremonies.