Průhonice Park

If you are a nature lover who has some extra time in Prague, make your way to Průhonice Park. Dating back to 1885, it’s a beautiful place for reflection, fresh air and a great walk. Count Arnošt Emanuel Silva-Tarouca basically dedicated his life to this park, creating a wild but landscaped feel that boasts groups of trees and bushes, open meadows, ponds and streams all interlaced with walking paths and lots of flower beds.

If the park isn’t enough for you, pay a visit to the Průhonice Chateau. Built on the spot of a Gothic castle, the first report of an owner dates back to the 1270s. The building went into decline, finally being rescued in the 1800s by Jan Nepomuk, the Count of Nostic-Rieneck, who undertook an extensive reconstruction in the Classicist style. Later in that century, when Count Arnošt Emanuel Silva-Tarouca took over, he reconstructed again in a Czech Neo-Renaissance style, and began to build the park. A permanent exhibition is held in the chateau. “Průhonice Castle & Park, Masterpiece of Nature and Human Mind,” goes more in depth to the history of the castle and park. That’s the only part of the chateau that is open to visitors.

Průhonice is not just a pretty place though. The park is valued as a spot with more than 1,800 species of local and exotic plants and the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic is housed in the Průhonice Chateau.

Průhonice is open year round, with hours that vary from 8am-5pm in the winter, to 7am to 8pm in the warmer months. Each season often its own special charm. The budding of the trees and peeking open of flowers in spring; the flowers in their full glorious bloom in summer; the crisp air and brilliant colors of autumn and finally a (hopefully) white wonderland come winter. Park entrance fee is 50 CZK.

Photos courtesy of Jacy Meyer (top) Průhonice Park (middle)