Vojanovy sady

Vojanovy sady is one of Prague's oldest gardens, tucked away behind the walls of Malá Strana, just south of Klárov square. It's a small green enclave in the heart of the city, but its story stretches back to the Middle Ages - from a forgotten bishop's orchard, through a Carmelite convent garden, to today's public park where peacocks wander freely between the paths.

How old is this garden really?

The site's history goes back to 1248, when an orchard stood here as part of a larger garden that once belonged to the Prague bishopric. After a long period of neglect, the land was revived in 1653, when it passed to the Discalced Carmelite order, who established a convent garden on the grounds. It's this 17th-century origin that leads many to consider Vojanovy sady the oldest surviving garden in Prague.

What happened after the convent was dissolved?

In 1782, as part of the Josephine reforms that dissolved monasteries across the Habsburg lands, the Carmelite convent was shut down and the grounds passed to an institute of English sisters. In the early 19th century they reshaped the former convent garden into an English-style landscape park, adding a winding stream, a fish pond, and ornamental conifers - a much looser, naturalistic layout than the geometric convent garden it replaced.

Where does the current name come from?

The park only received its present name in 1954, the same year it officially opened to the public in May. It was named after the actor Eduard Vojan, who was born on the nearby street Míšeňská - turning a former monastic garden into a public park honoring a figure tied to this corner of Malá Strana.

What can visitors actually see inside?

The layout blends two distinct traditions. The front section keeps the character of an orchard and English landscape park, with ornamental trees and informally winding paths. The rear section sits on a raised terrace with a stone balustrade, where traces of the old convent garden survive in the form of a pergola and a central fountain, giving this part of the park a more formal, contemplative feel. Vojanovy sady is also known for something less expected in a historic garden: peacocks, which have been bred here for years and roam freely across the lawns and paths, making the park a favorite stop for visitors with children.

Where exactly is the park located?

Vojanovy sady sits in Prague's Malá Strana district, within Prague 1, just south of Klárov square, close to Charles Bridge and Prague Castle hill. That location makes it easy to combine a walk through the garden with sightseeing in the historic city center without much extra travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vojanovy sady really the oldest garden in Prague? Given its medieval origins - an orchard already present in 1248 and a convent garden established in 1653 - it's often cited as the oldest surviving garden in the city.

Why is the park named after an actor? The name was given in 1954, when the garden opened to the public, in honor of Eduard Vojan, an actor born on the nearby street Míšeňská.

Are there really peacocks in the park? Yes, Vojanovy sady has long been known for breeding peacocks, which roam freely throughout the grounds.

What garden style defines the park today? It combines the old convent layout - visible in the rear terrace with its pergola and fountain - with the English landscape style introduced in the 19th century by the institute of English sisters.