Královská obora Stromovka

"Královská obora, now known as Stromovka Park, lies near the Holešovice Výstaviště and spans roughly 95 hectares. It serves today as a place for recreation, sports, and cultural activities, though its history dates back to the reign of Přemysl Otakar II. In 1266, he enclosed the land to create a hunting park and constructed a summer house there. The park was destroyed during the Hussite Wars but was later revived under Vladislav Jagiellon. Since the Hussite period, it has been opened to the public on the feast of St. Gothard. Ferdinand I expanded it further between 1536 and 1548, establishing a large pond and planting trees brought from Šárka, as well as connecting it directly to Prague Castle. During the reign of Rudolf II, Stromovka saw its peak. The summer house was renovated in Renaissance style, the nature reserve grew, and the pond was enlarged, with an island placed in its center. A significant engineering achievement during this time was Rudolf’s tunnel, built between 1582 and 1593, which still functions today, bringing water from the Vltava River to the park. The park suffered considerable damage during the 18th century when it became a military camp, but it was restored under the care of Count Kinsky. During the coronation of Francis I, public festivities were held there, and in 1804, an imperial decree definitively opened the park to the public. After 1850, a tree nursery known as Baumgarten was established, which likely led to the name Stromovka. Near the Great Pond, Count Kryštof Vratislav of Mitrovic financed the construction of the Royal Hall, later known as the Noble’s Restaurant, in 1689."

"Welcome to paradise! It's a perfect place for a walk, run, bike ride, or a picknick! "