Fíkovna

Fíkovna, the old fig house of Prague Castle, is one of the more unusual corners of the Royal Garden — a Renaissance structure built specifically to grow figs in a climate that has no business supporting them. It stands above the Deer Moat (Jelení příkop), just below the Royal Summer Palace (Belvedere), and for more than four centuries it has quietly done a very specific job: keeping Mediterranean fruit trees alive through Central European winters.

Why build a fig house at Prague Castle?

The idea came from Emperor Maximilian II, who commissioned the building in 1572 from Ulrico Aostalli, the Italian architect responsible for several Renaissance projects at the Habsburg court in Prague. Fig trees are not naturally winter-hardy in this region, so the whole structure was designed as a seasonal solution — open in summer, sealed and heated in winter.

What does the building actually look like?

Fíkovna is a long stone structure, roughly 12 by 73 metres, with no permanent roof. Its southern side is lined with a row of segmental arched openings that let the trees inside soak up light and warmth during the growing season. When winter came, those openings were covered with a temporary wooden roof, insulated with a layer of straw or hay, and the interior was heated to keep the fig trees from freezing.

What happened to it over the centuries?

For generations the building remained part of the castle's working garden infrastructure, even as its original purpose gradually became secondary to the shifting needs of the court and castle administration. Its location adds to the atmosphere: it sits right above Jelení příkop, a natural ravine carved by the Brusnice stream, which since the time of Rudolf II served as a deer enclosure — deer could still be found there as late as the 18th century.

When did fig growing return?

The tradition was revived only after 1990, during the presidency of Václav Havel, when fig cultivation resumed in the Royal Garden in keeping with the building's original purpose. After years of being closed to the public, Fíkovna itself reopened for visitors in 2024.

Why is it worth a stop?

Few spots in Prague combine court gardening history, functional Renaissance architecture by Aostalli, and a scenic walking route in quite the same way. The path along Jelení příkop offers views back toward the castle walls and the Royal Summer Palace, and it sits comfortably away from the crowds gathered in the main castle courtyards — a quieter, still historically rich detour for anyone exploring the castle grounds.

Frequently asked questions

What is Fíkovna? A Renaissance fig house built in 1572 in the Royal Garden of Prague Castle, designed by Ulrico Aostalli for Emperor Maximilian II.

Where exactly is it located? Above the Deer Moat (Jelení příkop), just below the Royal Summer Palace, within the Prague Castle complex.

Are figs still grown there today? Yes — cultivation was revived after 1990 during Václav Havel's presidency.

Can visitors go inside? The building reopened to the public in 2024 after years of being inaccessible.

What does the structure look like? An unroofed stone building about 12 by 73 metres, open on the south side, historically covered with a wooden roof and insulated with straw in winter.