Dienzenhoferovy sady

Dienzenhoferovy sady is a small park on the left bank of the Vltava River in Prague's Smíchov district, right beside Jiráskův most (Jirásek Bridge). Covering just 0.6 hectares, it's a compact green pocket that riverside walkers pass through on the way between Smíchov and the New Town.

Where does the park's name come from?

The name refers to a small letohrádek — a summer pavilion — that once stood on the site. The park was given its current name in 1920, replacing the earlier name Ferdinandův sad. The layout visitors see today dates from 1929 and was designed by architect Vlastislav Hofman, during the period when the nearby Jiráskův most was being built.

What stood here before the park?

The site has a surprisingly rich botanical past. It was once home to an imperial-royal university botanical garden, founded in 1775 on the grounds of an earlier Jesuit garden. At its peak this was one of the richest botanical gardens in Europe, cultivating around 12,000 species of native and exotic plants. After Charles University split into Czech and German sections in 1882, a new botanical garden was established across the Vltava on Na Slupi street in 1898 — the garden that still operates today as the Charles University Botanical Garden. The original site began to be parceled out from 1899 onward, giving way to the Ferdinandovo nábřeží embankment with residential buildings, and to the park itself.

What's worth seeing in the park?

The park's main attraction is a striking common oak roughly 20 meters tall, with a trunk circumference exceeding 3.75 meters (as measured in 2019). Because of its size and age, the tree was declared a protected natural monument on 26 January 2005.

Where exactly is the park located?

Dienzenhoferovy sady sits in Prague 5 – Smíchov, in the triangle formed by V Botanice, Matoušova and Zborovská streets, at an elevation of about 192 meters. The park borders the Vltava embankment and Jiráskův most directly, making it a convenient stop on a riverside walk.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a good spot to sit down and rest? Yes — it's a small, well-kept city park with paths and greenery, a natural stopping point for anyone walking along the embankment.

Is there any connection to the Charles University Botanical Garden? Indirectly, yes — this site once housed the predecessor of today's botanical garden, before it moved across the river to Na Slupi street.

Is there anything protected here for nature conservation? Yes, the park's old common oak has held protected-tree (natural monument) status since 2005.

What's the easiest way to reach the park? The park sits right next to Jiráskův most on the left bank of the Vltava in Smíchov, so the easiest approach is on foot along the embankment or from the bridge.