Hvezda Summer Palace and Park oasis within city boundary

Hvezda Summer Palace and park is a prefect trip for a pleasant walk away from the hustle and bustle on Charles Bridge and in the winding street of the Old Town. The park has maintained a rural atmosphere and resembles a mini forest. The eye catcher is an unusual building: a six-pointed star-shaped renaissance summer palace which is the venue of exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural and social events. The tree-lined avenues were once the hunting ground of the aristocracy but are now the territory of walkers, joggers and cyclists.

Hvezda Summer Palace

The permanent exhibition in the summer palace tells the history of the Battle of the White Mountain, which took place only a few kilometres away. In 1620 at the beginning of the Thirty Year War, an army of 15,000 Bohemians was defeated by 27,000 men of the army of the Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria.

You may have seen Bila Hora as the final destination of tram 22. This stop is close to Bila Hora, the White Mountain, one of the highest places in Prague (about 380 m) on top of the hill is a monument commemorating the battle. If you want to see a different aspect of Prague, the tram ride is a perfect way to do so. More about Bila Hora

The summer palace was built to the plans of Ferdinand II. It has the unusual shape of a six-pointed star which symbolized harmony, proportions, symmetry and numeric. Hvezda is the Czech word for star. Rumour has it that Ferdinand had to the summer palace built to give it to his beloved. In those days Ferdinand was the monarch of the Czech lands.

Hvezda Park

Imposing trees line the avenues that cross the park and lead to the summer house. Hvezda park is enclosed by a wall with three main gates and several smaller ones. There are two children’s playgrounds full with wooden climbing frames. One is near the northern entrance and the other one facing the summer house. The park is a Natura 2000 protected site because it is the habitat of a small snail. The municipality of Prague 6 organizes summer, autumn and other open-air festivals on a regular basis.

How to get there

The park is about six kilometres west of the centre and is large: 84 hectares (160 football fields!)

Take tram 1 or 2 to Sidliste Petriny, turn left onto U Hvezda street, continue to the T-junction and turn right. The entrance to Hvezda Park is across the street

Trams 22 and 25 also have a stop close to Hvezda park. Get off at the Vypich stop, which strangely enough is closer to the park than the Obora Hvezda stop.

Photos Marianne Crone and Wiki Commons