Riegrovy sady

"Rieger Gardens (Riegrovy sady) is a sprawling park spanning 11 hectares, situated among the streets of Polská, Chopinova, U Rajské zahrady, and Italská, with altitudes ranging from 127 to 170 meters. Established in 1902, it was formed by merging the former Kanálka garden with the gardens of several homesteads, including Saracinky, Švihanky, Pštrosky, and Kuchynky. These areas were primarily former vineyards, like the Andělka vineyard, which once housed a farm and an experimental plant station built by Count Josef Emanuel Canal in 1783. This facility featured an orangery, aviaries, a small zoo, fountains, lakes, and pavilions before being dismantled between 1901 and 1903. The park was designed between 1904 and 1908 by Leopold Batěk, who faced the challenge of creating a natural English-style park on sloping terrain after the Municipality of Vinohrady acquired the properties. In 1938, the park's area was reduced due to the construction of the Sokol gymnasium and playing field, which became one of the largest Sokol complexes in the world. During the German occupation in World War II, the gardens were commandeered by SS troops. Initially named after Czech politician František Ladislav Rieger, the park was briefly called Smetana Gardens during the war. Following the devastation of the war, it was renewed in 1947. One notable structure within the gardens is the former Šťastný's pub, modernized in 1934 and renamed Šretrova restaurace after its tenant. Post-war, several school buildings were erected on the site of the former Garden of Eden (Rajská zahrada), originally a store garden founded by František Thomayer. Today, remnants of the original architecture remain, including a Classical lookout tower from the 1820s, now serving as a restaurant, and a three-sided sandstone obelisk from around 1840, thought to commemorate a duel between two officers. Rieger Gardens is characterized by open meadows, stunning vistas of Prague, intimate nooks, and forested areas, making it a delightful place for visitors to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings."

"Recommended by a friend: "At/before sunset go to Riegrovy Sady, grab a beer, sit on the side of the hill and watch the sun go down on the castle "