Havlíčkovy sady (Grébovka), Prague: Vineyard Park Photo Guide

Havlíčkovy sady, which everybody in Prague simply calls Grébovka, is a hillside park in the Vinohrady district. It combines an Italian-style villa, terraces, a grotto and a working vineyard, and it is one of the most romantic parks in the city – and one that most visitors never reach.

History

The historical vineyard “Grébovka” is what remains of the extensive vineyards founded by Charles IV in the 14th century, which at that time covered the whole of today’s Havlíčkovy sady. The name of the neighbourhood, Vinohrady, means “vineyards” for the same reason.

The park itself was created in the 1870s and 1880s by the industrialist Moritz Gröbe, who built his Neo-Renaissance summer residence, the Gröbe Villa, on the slope and laid out the gardens around it. The local name Grébovka comes from him. The city later bought the estate and opened it to the public.

Nowadays we find ourselves enjoying a distinctive blend of a city park and the memorable remnant of the former vineyards.

What to See

• The Gröbe Villa and its terrace with a fountain, overlooking the valley.
• The vineyard and the wooden Vineyard Gazebo, where you can sit with a glass of local wine among the vines.
• The Grotta – an artificial rock cave with stairways, arches and a fountain.
• The Pavilion in the lower part of the park, now a café.

How to Get There

The park lies between Vinohrady and Vršovice. Take the tram to Jana Masaryka or Krymská and walk a few minutes, or walk about fifteen minutes from Náměstí Míru metro station. Entrance to the park is free; for opening times of the park and the wine bar, check the official website.

Photographing Grébovka

The slope faces south, so the vineyard gets sun for most of the day. Late afternoon and the hour before sunset are best: the light comes low across the vines and the gazebo, and the view opens over the rooftops of Vršovice and Nusle.

• The villa terrace and the balustrades work very well for couple and engagement portraits.
• The Grotta gives a dramatic, shaded background on bright days.
• Spring brings blossom, summer the green vines, and early autumn the grape harvest and the best colours.
• On sunny weekends and during the wine harvest celebrations the park is full. Weekday mornings are quiet.

Planning more stops in the city? Browse more Prague guides for other places worth visiting and photographing.

Proposing at Grébovka

Grébovka is one of the most romantic places to propose in Prague, and one most visitors never find. The vineyard, the villa terrace and the views over the rooftops give you a setting that feels private and a little Italian.

• Is it a good place to propose? Yes. The balustrades and terraces were made for this kind of moment, and you can celebrate with a glass of local wine at the vineyard gazebo afterwards.
• Best time: late afternoon and the hour before sunset, when low light comes across the vines. Spring blossom and early autumn colours are the prettiest seasons.
• Permits and rules: the park is free and public, and a private proposal needs no permit. Opening times of the park and the wine bar vary, so check the official website, and ask the administrator before bringing large props or decorations.
• Crowds: sunny weekends and the wine harvest celebrations fill the park. Weekday evenings and mornings are quiet.
• The best spot: the terrace of the Gröbe Villa above the fountain, or the path through the vineyard near the gazebo for a golden-hour moment.
• Where the photographer can wait: on the slope above or below the terrace, or among the vines with a longer lens, where a person with a camera looks perfectly normal.

Comparing places? See our guide to the best places to propose in Prague.