Kajetánské terasy

Kajetánské terasy is a small terraced garden in Prague's Malá Strana district, tucked between the Castle Stairs and Nerudova Street. It pairs a view toward Hradčany hill with a history stretching back to the early 15th century, offering a quieter alternative to the busier lookout points nearby.

Where exactly is this garden?

The plot covers roughly 2,085 m² at an elevation of 220–240 meters above sea level, running along a narrow stretch of land between Zámecké schody (the Castle Stairs) and Nerudova Street — one of Malá Strana's best-known streets, once used by the coronation processions of Czech kings on their way to the castle. The garden's entrance opens onto the castle ramp, making it a natural stop for anyone walking uphill toward Prague Castle.

Where does the name "Kajetánské" come from?

The first written record of a house on this site dates to 1407. The turning point came in 1672, when Count Bernard Ignác of Martinice bought the land for the Theatine order — known in Italian as the Cajetans, which is where the modern name comes from. Between 1691 and 1717, the Theatines built a church dedicated to Our Lady, Mother of Perpetual Help, designed by architects Jean-Baptiste Mathey and Giovanni Santini. The surviving perimeter walls of that original Baroque chapel now form the passage leading to the upper viewing terrace, while a café occupies the lower level.

How did the garden change in the 20th century?

In the 1960s, the property passed to the administration of Prague Castle, which commissioned architects Josef Hrubý, Otakar Kuča, and František Cubr to design a renewal of the garden. Only the first phase of that plan was ever completed, finished in 1973. The same architects also designed the café that stands on the grounds today — a distinctly modernist structure that contrasts with the site's Baroque origins.

What can visitors see here today?

Kajetánské terasy now functions as a publicly accessible terraced garden with a café, layering two distinct eras: the Baroque remains of the former monastery chapel walls, and the postwar modernist café and terrace design. The narrow, elongated shape of the plot means a walk through the garden moves through successive levels, each opening onto views over the rooftops of Malá Strana and the silhouette of the Castle above.

Why is it worth a stop while exploring Malá Strana?

The terraces make a natural resting point along the climb up Nerudova toward the Castle, letting visitors step off the crowded main route without adding much distance to their walk. The layered history — a Theatine monastery followed by a postwar redesign — gives the spot more depth than a typical viewpoint.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to Kajetánské terasy free? The garden functions as a publicly accessible space within the grounds administered by the Prague Castle authority.

Where does the name come from? From the Theatine order (Cajetans), who acquired the site in 1672 and built their church there.

What stands on the former monastery grounds today? A terraced garden with a café, designed by the same architects who led the site's postwar renewal.

How do you get there? The entrance is reached from the Castle Stairs (Zámecké schody) and the castle ramp, right next to Nerudova Street.