Univerzita Karlova. Botanická zahrada, Botanical garden at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Charles University's Botanical Garden occupies a 3.5-hectare wedge between Na Slupi, Benátská and Apolinářská streets in Prague's New Town. Its outdoor beds hold around 3,000 species, among them a 130-year-old Ginkgo biloba trained as a giant bonsai and one of the first dawn redwoods brought to Europe. Fourteen greenhouses, including a large subtropical palm house, stand on the site.
Founded in 1775 by Josef Bohumír Mikan in Smíchov, the garden moved to its present Nové Město site after the floods of 1890. The land had been cultivated since 1845 by the Czech Horticultural Society, and the universities bought it in 1890. The Czech part received a long orchid greenhouse in 1898, while the German university built its first greenhouse around 1900.
The garden serves as a teaching space for Charles University botany students and displays rare plants collected from around the world. Visitors can observe how these collections are maintained and which species matter for scientific study.
The garden is accessible on most days, with opening times varying by season and section. It helps to check current hours in advance since greenhouses may have restricted access at certain times.
The garden holds a roughly 130-year-old Ginkgo biloba cultivar named 'Praga', trained as a giant bonsai. It also grows one of the first Metasequoia specimens brought to Europe.
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