Žižkovy sady

Žižkovy sady is a park in Hradec Králové, stretching between the terraces of the Old Town to the south and Československé armády street to the north. It was laid out in 1905-1907 on the site of a former military training ground covering roughly 3.5 hectares. Today it's one of the city's favorite green spaces, sitting right at the edge of the historic centre.

When was the park created and where does its name come from?

The park was founded on the initiative of a local town-beautification association between 1905 and 1907. Its name comes from Žižkovo náměstí (Žižka Square), the name this spot already carried from 1896, well before the park itself existed. The layout was designed by František Thomayer, a Prague-based landscape architect who was one of the most respected garden and park designers working in Bohemia at the time.

What does the park's layout look like?

The central section is a grassy parterre with a circular fountain at its heart. To the west and east sit circular raised flower beds, replanted each season with annual flowers. This arrangement — a geometric parterre with a fountain framed by ornamental flower beds — was typical of parks designed around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and it gives Žižkovy sady the character of a formal, orderly urban garden.

What monuments can you find in the park?

Two monuments stand in the park, each with a different backstory. Under the staircase leading up from Radoušova street is a monument to Jan Žižka of Trocnov, unveiled in 1971 and honoring the Hussite military leader whose name the park carries. Opposite the entrance from Pospíšilova street stands a monument to L. J. Pospíšil from 1933, commemorating a local figure tied to the city's history.

Why is it worth a visit while exploring Hradec Králové?

Because Žižkovy sady borders the Old Town, it fits naturally into a walk through the historic centre. The park offers a break from sightseeing — shaded benches, a view over the flower beds and fountain, and a quiet atmosphere away from traffic. It's also a good place to see 19th-century urban park design in practice, from an era before the city expanded beyond its historic boundaries.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Žižkovy sady located? The park sits in Hradec Králové, between the terraces of the Old Town to the south and Československé armády street to the north.

When was the park built? Žižkovy sady was laid out between 1905 and 1907, on the site of a former military training ground.

Who designed the park? The layout was designed by František Thomayer, a landscape architect based in Prague.

Where does the park's name come from? The name comes from Žižkovo náměstí (Žižka Square) — this location had carried that name since 1896, before the park was created.

What monuments are in the park? A monument to Jan Žižka of Trocnov (1971) near the staircase from Radoušova street, and a monument to L. J. Pospíšil (1933) opposite the entrance from Pospíšilova street.