Místodržitelská zahrada in Brno

Místodržitelská zahrada (the Governor's Garden) is a small, intimate garden tucked into Denisovy sady on the slope of Petrov hill in Brno. While the surrounding park is one of the city's most visited green spaces, this fenced-off corner stays largely under the radar for visitors — yet its secluded character and roots stretching back to the early 19th century make it worth a short detour on any walk around Petrov.

Where does the garden's name come from?

The name honors Count Antonín Bedřich I. Mitrovský, who served as Moravian governor (místodržitel) in the early 19th century. Between 1814 and 1818 he initiated the creation of the first public park on Czech and Moravian soil, known as Park Františkov. That park was the direct predecessor of today's Denisovy sady, which only took their current name in 1919, in honor of the French historian Ernest Denis for his role in the founding of Czechoslovakia. The garden itself, however, kept the older name, a reminder of the governor who set the whole project in motion.

Where exactly is it, and how do you find it?

The garden sits on the slope of Petrov hill, just below a preserved stretch of the old city fortification walls, close to the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. The easiest landmark to navigate by is the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the Virgin Mary, which stands above the ramparts — from there it's a short walk further along the wall toward Bašty street. Directly across from the garden, on a restored section of the ramparts, sits a lookout point that offers a clear view over the whole enclosed space below.

What can you actually see inside?

The garden's centerpiece is a flowerbed enclosed on two sides by metal mesh fencing, overgrown with climbing plants — a detail that gives the space an intimacy rarely found elsewhere in the surrounding park. Next to a small pavilion stands a mature plane tree, one of the oldest in this part of Denisovy sady. The pavilion itself, a fairly simple structure today, was built around 1880 to replace an earlier, more ornate wooden building with a hipped roof.

How has the garden changed over time?

Early 20th-century photographs show the space used mainly as a lawn with seating, a quiet spot for rest within the wider park. Around 1960 it was converted into a summer café called Terasy pod Petrovem ("Terraces below Petrov"), designed by architects Josef Němec and Kamil Fuchs. The café was popular with locals for decades before it closed in the 1990s. In 2000, as part of a broader renovation of Denisovy sady, the garden underwent a full reconstruction that gave it its present-day appearance.

What is the garden used for today?

Today Místodržitelská zahrada is occasionally rented out for wedding ceremonies — its enclosed, sheltered layout can be closed off to the public for the duration of an event, making it a popular alternative to the busier, more open parts of the park. Outside of such bookings, it remains freely accessible and serves as a calm stop for anyone exploring Petrov on foot.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Místodržitelská zahrada located? Inside Denisovy sady, on the slope of Petrov hill in Brno, just below the old fortification walls near the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.

Where does the garden's name come from? From Count Antonín Bedřich I. Mitrovský, Moravian governor, who initiated the region's first public park between 1814 and 1818.

Is the garden open to the public? Yes, except when it is temporarily closed for private wedding ceremonies it hosts occasionally.

What are the main things to see there? A flowerbed enclosed by metal mesh fencing, a mature plane tree, and a small garden pavilion dating from around 1880.

How do you find the garden? Use the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the Virgin Mary above the ramparts as a landmark — the garden lies a short distance further along the wall toward Bašty street.