Zahrada Na Valech

The Garden on the Ramparts in Prague is a historic garden adjoining Prague Castle on Hradčany, forming part of the so-called southern gardens of the castle complex. Its present-day appearance is the work of Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik, whose design gave the space a distinctive, restrained, geometric character that sets it apart from the more ornamental baroque gardens found elsewhere around the castle.

Where exactly is the garden located?

The garden runs along the former defensive ramparts of the castle, which explains its name. This position, at the edge of Castle Hill, gives the site an elongated, terraced layout that follows the contours of the old fortifications. The location's coordinates (50.0907, 14.4032) place it directly beside the Prague Castle complex, confirming its close physical and historical link to the residence.

Who designed the garden in its current form?

The concept behind today's layout was created by Jože Plečnik, a Slovenian architect best known for his interventions within Prague Castle during the interwar period. His approach to garden design combined simplicity of form with functionality, aiming for the garden to harmonize both with the castle's architecture and with the wider panorama of the city spread out below the hill.

What are the "southern gardens" of Prague Castle?

The Garden on the Ramparts is part of a larger complex known as the southern gardens — a strip of green space running along the southern flank of Castle Hill, facing Malá Strana. It is precisely this position, along the line of the old defensive walls, that gives the garden's terraces their distinctive views over the rooftops of the Old Town and Malá Strana below.

Why is it worth a visit while exploring Prague?

The Garden on the Ramparts sits naturally on the route linking a visit to Prague Castle with a walk through Malá Strana. For visitors touring Hradčany, it offers a quieter alternative to the busy castle courtyards — a place to slow down, pause, and take in the city from a different vantage point than the more crowded viewing terraces. The terraced layout, a legacy of the site's original defensive purpose, means a walk through the garden unfolds level by level, each one revealing a slightly different slice of the skyline.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the garden free? The southern gardens of Prague Castle, which include the Garden on the Ramparts, are generally part of the castle's publicly accessible grounds — it is nonetheless worth checking current entry rules on site or through official castle sources before visiting, as they can vary seasonally.

How does this garden differ from other castle gardens in Prague? The key differences are its authorship by Jože Plečnik and its location along the former defensive ramparts — the shaped terrain and the minimalist, functional design style set it apart from the more decorative, baroque garden layouts found in other parts of the castle complex.

How do you get to the Garden on the Ramparts? The garden lies directly next to Prague Castle on Hradčany, making it easy to reach on foot either from the castle courtyards above or from Malá Strana below, for those approaching the hill from that side.

Is it worth combining a visit with other Hradčany attractions? Yes — given its proximity to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, the garden fits naturally into a longer route through this part of the city, offering a restful, scenic counterpoint to the denser, more historic interiors of the castle itself.