Medvědárium

Medvědárium (the Bear House) is a former bear enclosure tucked into the slope of the Stag Moat (Jelení příkop), on the northwest edge of Prague Castle's grounds, below the Masaryk Lookout Point, built into the castle's northern ramparts. No bears have lived here for decades, but the bear keeper's cottage and the barred caves cut into the slope — occasionally still used as pens — survive to this day.

Why were there bears at Prague Castle?

The idea for a bear enclosure dates back to 1919, when President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk received two bears as a gift from legionnaires returning from Russia. To house the animals properly, a purpose-built enclosure went up on the castle grounds, designed by Jiří Janda, the founder of Prague Zoo. That project became the Medvědárium, a lasting fixture of the Stag Moat landscape that has survived to the present day.

What was life like for the bears in the moat?

The bears lived in caves cut into the hillside and secured with iron bars, cared for by a dedicated bear keeper who had his own cottage right next to the enclosure. That cottage still stands today, one of the few physical traces of the old enclosure, alongside the barred caves themselves.

What happened on 3 August 1942?

The Medvědárium's history wasn't without tragedy. On 3 August 1942, the bears turned on their keeper, a man named Peka, fatally injuring him; police who intervened shot four of the animals. The remaining two bears, already caged when the incident occurred, lived on in the Stag Moat for another year. Only on 10 August 1943, on orders from the anti-aircraft defense command, were they finally transferred to Prague Zoo.

Can you visit the Medvědárium today?

The enclosure was permanently closed in the 1950s and has kept no animals since. The Stag Moat itself, however, is an open, walkable green space bordering Prague Castle, so visitors strolling its paths can still spot the remnants of the old Medvědárium — the bear keeper's cottage and the barred caves carved into the slope — as a quiet trace of an unusual chapter in the castle's history. It makes for an interesting stop for anyone exploring the area around Prague Castle who wants to see something beyond the main architectural sights.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Medvědárium located? In the northwest part of the Prague Castle grounds, on the slope of the Stag Moat (Jelení příkop), below the Masaryk Lookout Point, built into the castle's northern ramparts.

Who initiated the bear enclosure? President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, after receiving two bears as a gift from legionnaires in 1919.

Who designed the Medvědárium? Jiří Janda, the founder of Prague Zoo.

Do bears still live in the Medvědárium? No — the enclosure was closed in the 1950s. The bear keeper's cottage and the barred caves in the hillside still survive, though, visible on a walk through the Stag Moat.