Městský park

Městský park (City Park) in Chrudim is a green enclave on the northwestern edge of the town, one of the oldest and most recognizable municipal parks in eastern Bohemia. Founded in the second half of the 19th century, it has served ever since as the town's main promenade garden, combining historical park architecture with the role of a modern recreational space.

How did the park come into being?

The story of the site goes back to 1864, when beer cellars and the "Na Sklepích" restaurant were built in the area. The following year, in 1865, the first trees were planted next to these buildings, marking the earliest seed of today's park. That planting did not last long, though: in 1866 the trees were destroyed by Prussian troops passing through the region during the Austro-Prussian War.

The actual founding of the park is dated to 1875–1876. It was laid out according to a design by the princely gardener Švarc from Heřmanův Městec, with the work carried out by Chrudim gardener František Lavička. The Chrudim industrialist František Wiesner played a major role in establishing the park as well — for a time it was even named "Wiesnerovy sady" (Wiesner's Gardens) in his honor.

Who expanded the park later?

A further important stage of development is linked to František Thomayer, chief gardener of the royal city of Prague and the author of several notable park designs across Bohemia. Following his project, a decorative pond was created in the park, and it remains one of the site's characteristic landscape features to this day.

What can visitors see in the park today?

The park still holds structures of considerable historical value. Among them is a brick-and-timber pavilion known as the Moorish summerhouse, along with a statue of Kalliope by Bohuslav Schnirch, a respected Czech sculptor. Picturesque wooden bridges complete the scene, crossing water and linking the park's pathways.

An interesting chapter in the park's history was a small zoological garden that operated here from May 1904, consisting of an aviary and an enclosure housing, among other animals, roe deer. For a time, this attraction turned the park into a place visited not just for walks but also for its educational and natural-history appeal.

The park is also closely tied to the 1st Landscape, Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition of 1881, an event of considerable regional significance. The Moorish pavilion dates from that period, and in 2001 a replica of the original wooden exhibition pavilion was additionally reconstructed.

Is the park under legal protection?

Yes. Since June 27, 2023, Městský park in Chrudim has been listed as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic. The protection covers the park together with the structures connected to the 1881 exhibition — the 2001 replica of the wooden pavilion and the Moorish pavilion. This status confirms the considerable historical and architectural value of the whole site.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Městský park in Chrudim located? The park lies on the northwestern edge of Chrudim.

When was the park founded? Its actual founding is dated to 1875–1876, although the first trees on the site were planted as early as 1865.

Who designed the park? The design came from the princely gardener Švarc from Heřmanův Městec, executed by Chrudim gardener František Lavička. The later expansion, including the decorative pond, was designed by František Thomayer.

What historical structures are in the park? The park contains a brick-and-timber Moorish summerhouse and a statue of Kalliope by Bohuslav Schnirch, as well as the Moorish pavilion and a 2001 replica of the wooden exhibition pavilion, both connected to the 1881 exhibition.

Did the park ever have a zoo? Yes, from May 1904 a small aviary and a roe deer enclosure operated in the park.

Is the park a protected monument? Yes, since June 27, 2023 it has been protected as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic.