Zítkovy sady

Zítkovy sady is a small park in Prague 2, tucked between Náměstí Pod Emauzy, Palackého náměstí and the Rašínovo nábřeží embankment. It is easy to walk past without noticing it, yet the ground beneath this quiet patch of grass holds one of the more interesting stories of this part of the city — the vanished riverside district of Podskalí.

What kind of place is this

The park has a regular, rectangular layout and is made up mostly of open lawn. Its most distinctive feature is that the central section sits lower than the surrounding streets, reached only by a short flight of stairs. That gives Zítkovy sady the feel of a sunken green pocket, visually separated from the busy roads around it even though it sits right in the heart of Prague 2, just a few minutes from the Vltava river.

The park takes its name from Josef Zítek, the architect best known for designing Prague's National Theatre building. The ground it occupies, however, has a much older story attached to it — this is the former site of Podskalí.

Why there is greenery here today

Podskalí was for centuries a distinct riverside district of Prague, a cluster of houses, workshops and landings tied to life along the Vltava. It reached its peak in the 19th century. As that century drew to a close and the 20th began, the old settlement was gradually cleared: the construction of Palackého Bridge forced demolitions, and in their place a new embankment and residential buildings rose up in the urban style of the period.

The biggest wave of redevelopment came between 1904 and 1914, when the area below the Emmaus Monastery underwent a major overhaul and more of old Podskalí's buildings disappeared from the map. The very last one was torn down in 1924. It was on this cleared ground that today's park eventually took shape — which is also why Zítkovy sady is protected as a significant archaeological site, a record of what once stood here.

What else to see nearby

The park borders Náměstí Pod Emauzy, home to a memorial dedicated to Czechoslovak legionnaires and the victims of the First World War. It was unveiled on 28 October 1932, on the anniversary of Czechoslovak independence, and was created by sculptor Josef Mařatka. It remains one of the more significant memorial sites in this part of Prague and a natural stop for anyone already at Zítkovy sady.

The park's position — between Palackého náměstí and the Vltava embankment — also makes it a convenient stopping point on a walk between central Prague 2 and the Emmaus Monastery (Emauzy), which is only a short distance away.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Zítkovy sady? In Prague 2, directly next to Náměstí Pod Emauzy, Palackého náměstí and the Rašínovo nábřeží embankment, close to the Vltava river.

Where does the park's name come from? From Josef Zítek, the architect behind Prague's National Theatre.

Why is the middle of the park lower than its surroundings? The central lawn sits below the level of the surrounding streets and is reached by stairs — a distinctive part of the park's layout.

What stood here before the park? The former riverside district of Podskalí, largely demolished around the turn of the 20th century and again between 1904 and 1914; its last building came down in 1924.

What is worth seeing nearby? The memorial to Czechoslovak legionnaires and First World War victims on the adjoining Náměstí Pod Emauzy, unveiled in 1932 and created by sculptor Josef Mařatka.