Markétská zahrada, Historical garden in Břevnov, Czech Republic.
Markétská zahrada covers 12.4 hectares of terraced gardens and orchards of the Břevnov Benedictine monastery, between 325 and 368 m above sea level. A hornbeam alley runs from the Vojtěška pavilion to the Josefka gloriette, and baroque water tunnels once fed the monastery. The walled orchard is open from four sides; the cloister garden is locked at night.
The garden is part of Břevnov Monastery, founded in 993 and the oldest Benedictine monastery in Bohemia. The grounds developed over centuries as both a spiritual and horticultural space.
The garden's name comes from St. Margaret's Church, and its baroque layout dates from the 1708–1721 rebuilding under Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. A hornbeam avenue runs from the Vojtěška pavilion to the Josefka gloriette, and the orangery in the upper terrace later housed the Entrance art gallery.
The enclosed monastic garden is locked from 20:00 to 7:00 and opens only through the south gate from the courtyard and the north gate from the orchard; two west gates and the cemetery gate are not for visitors. The orchard and part of the forest park on the upper northern plateau are open without restriction, with a passage down to Markétská street at the western edge.
The garden holds a system of Baroque water tunnels (štoly) that once supplied water to the monastery. The entrance gate from Markétská Street was built by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer in 1740, with statues of St Benedict and angels by Karel Josef Hiernle.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,397 contributors worldwide.