Palace Gardens – Prague Castle Hill

Let’s start this talk at the place, where we ended the previous one. At the south flank of Prague Castle hill.

Castle Gardens descending from the Castle hill

Winter overall view to Gardens

In the history this place has mainly defense character, the fortress system there was established around 1241. At the beginning of 15th century the defense function at this place lost its importancy, the place was sold by municipality to nobles and rich burghers.  Sinister elements were hiding at cabins standing at small gardens for some time.

Kolowrat Gardens

But later the small gardens and vinyards were joined to bigger complex, so at 1580 was big Fürstenberk Garden founded, soon garden behind Pallfy Palace followed and the last surviving vinyards were changed to garden at Ledeburg palace in 1624. The gardens were in italian Renaissance style, built for joy and distraction.

Top of the Small Fürstenberg Garden in Fall

Same place in winter, St. Nicholas Church in lesser Town Square in the back

At the end of Thirty Years War 1648 were spoiled by Swedich Army adn after that rebuilt again, but now in rich and decorative Baroque style, as was asked to show the status of ich and powerfull noble or burgher owners.

View from the bottom of Ledeburgh Garden

Balustrade terasses were decorated with sculptures, monumantal stairs, fountains and waterwors sweetened the specially during summer time.

Triton Fountain in Big Palffy Garden

We can still find there sala terrena in renaissance style, galerries, pavillons. From high-pitched stairs we can admire magis views to Lesser Town and Old Town with other Prague quarters on the horizon.

Nice view and relaxing zone at the top of Small Palffy Garden

The gardens system now consist of Ledeburg, Small and Big Palffy, Kolowrat and Fürstenberg gardens.

Parter of Ledeburg Garden in winter

Sala Terrena at Parter of Ledeburg Garden with small Christmas tree

And Ledeburg Parter once again, this time in autumn

Gardens are opened for Spring, Summer and Autumn, but from November to March they are closed. Few years ago I had a chance to visit the Gardens during Advent time, they were covered with snow and it was really perfect atmosphere there.

Ledeburg Garden in fall …

… and in winter

And now enjoy some stills from gardens.

Hidden corner at Big Palffy Garden

Stairs and alcove at Fürstenberg Garden

Top of the Fürstenberg Garden (ticket office)

Small gate between Kolowrat and Fürstenberg Gardens

Pink flowers at the bottom entrance to Gardens (Kolowrat Garden)

A view from the bottom entrance again

Autumn Airing in Prague

I love fall, I love all the colors around, and as the weather is beautiful this October in Prague, I want to take you for a small walk with special emphasis to views and trees and autumn colors. It won’t be really long, we will start at Strahov Monastery and end our tour around Prague Castle Gardens, but I hope you will enjoy it.

I love Strahov Monastery and the view to Prague from there, also the beer Norbert in small brewery is perfect.

Strahov Premonstratensians Monastery yard, side of the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, golden rail with golden leaves

View from Strahov to north.

Prague Castle on the left, small green spires right from the center belong to CHurch of St. Nicholas, famous baroque church, Monastery of Karel Boromejsky down right

South direction.

St. Nicholas again and beautiful garden on Petrin hill, dressed in autumn colors

Our trip follows down by the Uvoz street with baroque buildings on the left and Boromejsky Monastery Gardens on the right, with Petrin Hill on background.

Leaves on former wine house in Uvoz street

Deatils of Uvoz street

Street with rowanberries

Gas lamp

Where Uvoz meets Neruda street, we go up to the castle gardens, with a look to red roofs of Lesser Town.

Typical Lesser Town red roofs and Petrin hillside

South castle gardens are closed in winter, but now we still have a chance to enjoy green, yellow and red colors of trees there together with the milky view to Prague roofs and spires.

Church of Our Lady Victorious with Baby Infant Jesus in the middle

Garden Na Valech, just bellow the Castle, and the nicest autumn views from there.

Royal Palace, Ludwig’s wing behind the leaves

Old Town and Zizkov at the background

Small vinyard and nice place to live

I hope you liked our small tour around the Prague Castle and enjoy the autumn colors at your neighborhood, they can remind you our walk and hopefully bring you to Prague to see it on your own eyes.

View Down to South Prague Castle Gardens

Plitvice Lakes in Croatia

Behind the waterfall

Almost by coincidence it happend that I had a chance to visit Plitvice lakes, beautiful National Park in Croatia. You know, every visitor of Croatia talked about it, it is a must see and so on and so on. But I was not really that much interested in it, and when I was told I am going there, I was even a bit disappointed. Now I think that maybe it is the best feeling for coming somewhere (anywhere), because then you enjoy the place more then with having high expectation. In fact the place is really beautiful and breathtaking. Fortunatelly we had nice weather as well :-).

Wooden path

Beautiful color of water

Plitvice National Park was established in 1949 and it covers about 300 km² of natural splendor. The park is on the UNESCO World Heritage List from 1979 in recognition of its “outstanding natural beauty and undisturbed production of travertine (tufa) through chemical and biological action”. It includes 16 lakes with crystal clear and turquoise water in forested mountain area, about 140 waterfalls are created when water decants from lake to lake. The underwater life is very rich and the depths of the lakes in unbelievable.

Guards of the silver treasury

Visitor are walking on nice path in the forest or on wooden paths above the water.

Look at the hole down left, where all the water is going … and then behind the edge is the waterfall

The only think that annoyed me were people around me, so getting a picture without a person was almost superhuman achievement.

And I think we were the lucky ones, as season is at the end and the crowds were not that big. But mostly I was fascinated by the life under water and the depths of the lakes, as it was quickly descending from the bench down there … somewhere … Australia maybe?

About Plitvice I have to mention also the name of Winnetou, the most famous Indian brother we Europeans have. He was a part of our childhood and the movies with him were partly filmed at Plitvice lakes. I think I have to watch them again, because I don’t remember the sceneries well … :-).

So enjoy the pictures, but better go to Croatia and see it on your own.

From the bench

Waterfall

Glittering sun

Crawfish

Tree bellow the water table

Underwater flora

Walking path