Prague Gardens - BRIEF ITINERARY

Meet your guide and coach, check-in to your hotel. Your exact programme depends on the time of your arrival.

We will visit Prague Castle (part of UNESCO heritage ) - seat of Czech kings from 9th century. It is the largest inhabited castle in Europe and is now the seat of the Czech President. From here we will admire the magnificent Saint Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal palace, the Golden Lane, where the alchemist lived at the time of the mad Emperor, Rudolf II.

The Royal Garden is connected to the Castle. We will explore the renaissance garden and the Summer Palace Belveder, where the Royal family grew lemon trees and palms. It was also the first place in Europe where it was possible to see tulips.

The Paradise Garden and Garden on the Ramparts provide an excellent view of Prague. In the former private gardens of the kings and emperors, we can find trees which are around 700 years old.

Today we will visit the Lesser Town, where the many palaces and gardens of noble families, now mostly embassies, retain a romantic baroque atmosphere enhanced by the panorama of the Castle and magnificent Church of Saint Nicolas and Petrin Hill.

The Vrtbovska Garden. Terraced and full of mythological statues and paintings of the masters of Prague Baroque art, this offers a wonderful view of the famous baroque Saint Nicolas Cathedral, one of the most beautiful buildings in the capital. Here we can admire the great ceiling fresco and the organ, which was played by W.A.Mozart.

Next is the Wallenstein Garden. This is decorated by a maze of trimmed shrubs, has a pool with orange fishes and a grotto. The statues from Adrian de Vries line both sides of the path, which leads to the salla terrena, where concerts take place during the summer time.

The Palace Gardens were formerly the vineyards. Here are the gardens of the noble families, Fürstenberg, Lobkowicz, Kolowrat and real baroque gem, the Ledeburg Garden, designed by the master, J.B. Santini. Each garden is individual with different varieties of plants, sizes and architecture, but they are all connected by small gateways.

Lastly, we will cross the Charles Bridge to admire the gallery of the statues of the Baroque masters.

Dinner will be prepared for us on a boat, with magnificent views of Prague from the river.

Today we will visit Pruhonice. This romantic castle lies within a large park which was founded in the 19th Century by the owner, Emanuel Silva Tarouca. A stream running through the valley gives enchanting views through the meadows. There are artificial lakes and numerous dendrological rarities. During the 19th Century, the Silva Gardens, a large dendrological garden of the Institute of Landscape Ornamental Gardening, was founded on the other side of the village. It has a famous collection of all the species of rhododendrons and good examples of the covering and climbing woods.

Lunch will be in the suitably named Magnolia Restaurant.

The afternoon will be free, or we can optionally visit the Villa of Müller, in Prague 6. The building is one of the most interesting functionalist works of the twentieth century. It is the project of the famous architect, Loos, who used his imagination to this remarkable end. It is the family seat of Prague private investor Müller. It is now accessible, along with the garden designed in the same style. It covers a small area of just .007 hectares, but incorporates a height difference of eight metres.

We will enjoy a farewell dinner at the Restaurant Nebozízek on the Petřín Hill.

Free time in the city before your flight departure time.