Lochotínský park

Lochotínský Park in Pilsen (Czech: Plzeň) is the city's oldest park, a green pocket in the Plzeň 1 district that has anchored local leisure life since the early 19th century and still draws residents looking for a quiet break outside the historic centre.

How did the park come to be?

The park was laid out in 1832 as part of a spa complex that was taking shape at the time in the Lochotín area. Through the 19th century it functioned as a social and health-cure hub for old Pilsen — a place for strolling, taking the waters, and gathering for patriotically tinged events. Notable visitors reportedly included composer Bedřich Smetana and playwright Josef Kajetán Tyl, a detail that underlines how central the park once was to the city's cultural life. Seventeen years after its founding, the grounds passed into the hands of the Měšťanský pivovar (the burghers' brewery), yet this ownership change didn't end its public role — the park kept serving Pilsen's residents right up until the Second World War.

Its original layout was considerably more ornamental than what visitors find today: an artificial waterfall, a romantic hermit's grotto, a stone "Arthur's table," and small chapels gave it the mood typical of a Romantic-era pleasure garden. Not all of these features survive in their original form, but the underlying idea — a park built for contemplation and rest — has carried through to the present.

What can visitors see there now?

Today's Lochotínský Park is defined mostly by mature trees and open lawns, though several distinctive spots remain. Look for the so-called Chotek's bench, paired with a small gazebo that echoes the park's tradition of shaded rest. Nearby stands a music pavilion, once used for open-air concerts, along with a sculpture referencing the historic "Arthur's Table." Plentiful seating throughout makes the park equally suited to a quick pause during a city walk or a longer, unhurried stroll.

Is the park changing?

Yes — Lochotínský Park is currently undergoing its third phase of revitalization, managed by the city's Public Property Administration (Správa veřejného statku města Plzně). The work is scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2027 and includes new perennial flower beds, restoration of the park's pond, and the replacement of trees too damaged to nurse back to health. As a result, the park is gradually regaining some of its former grandeur while keeping its historic layout intact.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the park? No, Lochotínský Park is a free, publicly accessible green space open year-round.

How do you get there from Pilsen's city centre? The park sits in the Plzeň 1 district, in the Lochotín area, and is well served by local public transport from the centre; it's also a walkable option of roughly fifteen minutes from nearby stops.

What's worth seeing beyond the greenery itself? The standout features are Chotek's bench with its gazebo, the music pavilion, and the sculpture referencing the historic "Arthur's Table" — all reminders of the park's earlier life as a spa venue.

Does the ongoing revitalization get in the way of a visit? The work is being carried out in phases, so the park stays open to walkers throughout, though some sections may have temporary fencing around gardening work planned to finish in 2027.