In Chotkovy Gardens, several new viewpoints with picnic tables will be created

Prague - Several new viewpoints with picnic tables will be created in the Chotek Gardens. The pond by the monument of Julius Zeyer will be restored, and the paths will be adjusted to logically connect the gardens with the surroundings. Benches and lighting will also be replaced. This is part of the winning design of the architectural competition for the restoration of the Chotek Gardens, created by the Arkytek studio in collaboration with architect Matouš Jebavý. Representatives of the Administration of Prague Castle and the Institute of Planning and Development of Prague (IPR) presented it to journalists today. The restoration of the gardens is expected to cost approximately 80 million crowns, which the Administration of Prague Castle intends to finance from tourism revenues.

"We perceive the park as a viewpoint route between Letná and the Castle. When you walk along the southern edge of the park, beautiful views of Prague will open up to you. The new viewpoints will be named after the vanished bastions and will offer views of objects bearing the same name," stated Jebavý. He added that the design includes the restoration of the pond at Zeyer's monument and also a second romantic element that used to exist in the gardens.

The jury praised the design for a new cycling route, which will be marked to prevent conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists. "Currently, there is a cycle path and a cycling route there, one direction goes along the road and the other through the park. Our proposal aims to relocate the cycling route outside the park in a larger part and create a bend there so that cyclists slow down, which eliminates a dangerous spot," explained Radek Prokeš from the Arkytek studio.

The winning design includes the return of the so-called perennial bed, a collection of perennials solitarily placed in the lawn, which was popular at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The restoration of greenery in the park will be gradual and will take about ten years.

"Now we can start the design work, we expect it to be completed by 2027, after which we will proceed to the actual implementation," stated the director of the Administration of Prague Castle, Pavel Vyhnánek. The administration intends to finance the park's restoration from revenues generated by tourism. "We see this as a gesture to compensate citizens for various negative phenomena associated with overtourism," added Vyhnánek.

The Chotek Gardens were established in 1832, initiated by the last highest burgrave of the Czech kingdom, Karel Chotek, due to the construction of the neighboring road on the site of the original economic background of Prague Castle. The park was initially named the People's Garden and was renamed after Chotek in 1841. It was later modified at the end of the 1880s according to the design of the then director of Prague parks and gardens, František Thomayer. It borders the Queen Anne's Summer Palace and the Royal Garden of Prague Castle, with the Letná Gardens connected by a footbridge over Chotková Street.