Dvořákovy sady

Dvořákovy sady (Dvořák Park) is a municipal park in Karlovy Vary that stretches along the banks of the Teplá River, right at the edge of the town's spa district. Anyone walking between the Garden Colonnade and the Thermal Hotel passes through it almost by default, which makes it one of the more effortless green stops on a spa-town itinerary.

Why is the park named after Dvořák?

The park carries the name of Antonín Dvořák, the celebrated Czech composer, and a monument dedicated to him stands inside its grounds. Karlovy Vary has a long habit of honouring cultural figures tied to the town, and this park is one of the clearest examples of that tradition.

How did the park come to look the way it does?

The park's story goes back to 1877–1878, when gardener Jan Hahmann laid out its original design. That first layout gave the space its basic structure, but the appearance visitors encounter today largely dates from a 1974 redesign carried out by architect Adolf Petr, who reshaped the paths and plantings into something closer to the current form.

What's actually worth seeing there?

The park reads more like an English-style garden than a formal town square — loose, informal, built around curved sandy paths rather than straight lines. Along the way there are small ponds and a wide variety of trees. Two trees in particular stand out as memorial specimens over 200 years old: the Garden Plane Tree and Dvořák's Plane Tree, the latter named directly after the composer. Beyond the greenery, the grounds also hold a handful of sculptures and the Dvořák monument itself, which serves as a natural landmark for anyone finding their way through.

Where exactly does it sit within the spa area?

Dvořákovy sady sits right in the centre of Karlovy Vary, at the very start of the spa zone. It borders the Teplá River directly, and its position between the Garden Colonnade and the Thermal Hotel makes it a convenient place to pause while moving between the town's main attractions — a spot to slow down by a small pond and look at centuries-old trees before continuing on toward the colonnades and the spa facilities.

Frequently asked questions

How old are the oldest trees in the park? The two memorial specimens — the Garden Plane Tree and Dvořák's Plane Tree — are both more than 200 years old, making them among the oldest living features in this part of Karlovy Vary.

Is there a monument to Antonín Dvořák in the park? Yes, it's the monument that gave the park its current name, and it's one of the main points where visitors stop.

Who shaped the park's present-day layout? The original design from 1877–1878 came from gardener Jan Hahmann, while the layout seen today results from a 1974 redesign by architect Adolf Petr.

Is the park close to other spa attractions? Yes, it sits at the beginning of the spa zone, between the Garden Colonnade and the Thermal Hotel, so it's easy to combine a visit with a walk through the rest of the town centre.