Statue of Venus in front of the Wallenstein Riding School

Statue of Venus in Front of the Wallenstein Riding School in Prague

The Statue of Venus in front of the Wallenstein Riding School is a bronze figure standing at the entrance to the former riding hall within the Wallenstein Garden (Valdštejnská zahrada) in Prague's Lesser Town. It depicts Venus together with Cupid and a dolphin, and ranks among the oldest decorative elements of this early Baroque garden complex.

Where does the statue come from?

The original figure was created in 1599 by the Nuremberg sculptor Benedikt Wurzelbauer. It first adorned a fountain in the garden of the Lobkowicz family. In 1630 the piece passed into the hands of Albrecht von Wallenstein, who had it placed by the Neptune Fountain in his newly built palace garden. Its story did not end there: in 1648, as Swedish troops besieged and looted Prague near the end of the Thirty Years' War, much of the garden's decoration — including its sculptures — was carried off to Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm. Copies eventually replaced the lost originals in the Wallenstein Garden, but Wurzelbauer's Venus itself was returned to Prague in 1889 and took up a new position in front of the riding school building.

Where exactly can visitors find it?

The statue stands right next to the Wallenstein Riding School (Valdštejnská jízdárna), a building erected as part of the wider palace complex that today serves as an exhibition hall of the National Gallery in Prague. The entire palace-and-garden ensemble was built in the first half of the 17th century at the initiative of Albrecht von Wallenstein, one of the most powerful and wealthy noblemen of his era, who intended his residence to rival the grandeur of Prague Castle itself. The garden where the statue now stands combines geometric paths, ponds, and pavilions in the early Baroque Italian style typical of the period, with fountains and figures such as this Venus forming an integral part of that design.

Why is it worth a closer look?

The Venus statue is a witness to the turbulent history of Central Europe: its journey from the Lobkowicz garden, through Wallenstein's residence, to Swedish war plunder and back to Prague more than two centuries later, mirrors the wars and political upheavals that shook the region throughout the 17th century. For visitors to the Wallenstein Garden, it is one of those details that can easily be overlooked while hurrying toward the more famous stalactite grotto or the aviary, yet it rewards a closer look — both for the quality of its craftsmanship and for the story it carries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who made the Venus statue? The figure was created by the German (Nuremberg-based) sculptor Benedikt Wurzelbauer in 1599.

Why did the statue end up in Sweden? In 1648, toward the end of the Thirty Years' War, Swedish forces captured and plundered Prague, taking numerous artworks with them, including garden sculptures from Wallenstein's residence, which were brought to Drottningholm Palace.

When did the statue return to Prague? Wurzelbauer's original Venus figure returned to the Wallenstein Garden in 1889.

Where exactly does the statue stand? In front of the former palace riding school (Valdštejnská jízdárna), within the Wallenstein Garden in Prague's Lesser Town.

Does the riding school still serve any function today? Yes, the building is used as an exhibition space by the National Gallery Prague, which hosts temporary exhibitions of Czech and international art there.