Chotek Gardens

Chotek Gardens are Prague's oldest public city park. Almost two centuries after its foundation, the 3.7-hectare historic park—open to the public throughout the year—is preparing for an extensive renewal.

The site once hosted knightly tournaments and served as service grounds for Prague Castle, including timber storage. The English-style park, founded in 1832 alongside construction of Chotek Road, was the first work of important landscape architect František Josef Thomayer. After a long period in poor condition, Prague Castle is now planning a complete renewal. A competition for the transformation was held in 2025. The jury selected a proposal by landscape architects Martina Kameníková, Radek Prokeš and Monika Šafářová of Arkytek, working with Matouš Jebavý, who also contributed to the renewal of Riegrovy Gardens.

The new design emerged from an open international architecture and landscape competition organised in autumn 2025 by Prague Castle and the Prague Institute of Planning and Development. It develops the park in the spirit of its original designer, Thomayer, using a varied range of trees, foliage colours and seasonal changes in the planting.

Benches and paths, now nearing the end of their useful life, will be restored. Plans include new lighting and an intimate area with water, shrubs and flowering plants around the monument to Julius Zeyer. A large viewpoint with seating and picnic tables will be created above Chotkova Street.

The public also had a voice in the park's transformation through guided walks and questionnaires. The Prague Castle Administration plans to begin the complete renewal within two years.