Queen Anne's Summer Palace

Queen Anne's Summer Palace is a rectangular Renaissance building in the Royal Garden of Prague with a surrounding arcade gallery of 36 columns topped with Tuscan capitals and 114 relief decorations. The open gallery wraps completely around the central structure and creates a covered walkway on both levels.

Ferdinand I commissioned construction between 1538 and 1560 for his wife Anne Jagiellonica, who passed away before completion. Rudolf II later established an observatory on the first floor where Tycho Brahe conducted astronomical research.

Today the building hosts rotating art exhibitions that bring together modern and historical works. Visitors experience a calm contrast to the busy activity at Prague Castle next door.

The palace sits in the Royal Garden near Prague Castle and can be reached through the northern entrance. The path leads through the garden and offers a pleasant walk before visiting the exhibition rooms.

The reliefs on the arcades show mythological scenes and everyday life that reveal surprising details on closer inspection. The copper roof produces a bell-like sound during rain, which gave the building its nickname Belvedere.

Location: Hradčany

Location: Prague 1

Inception: 1538

Founders: Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

Architects: Paolo della Stella

Architectural style: Renaissance architecture

Elevation above the sea: 260 m

Part of: Prague Castle

GPS coordinates: 50.09361,14.40542

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:10