Kinský Garden (Zahrada Kinských) covers about 22 hectares on the southern and south-eastern slope of Petřín hill, above the district of Smíchov. It is separated from the other Petřín gardens by the Hunger Wall, the medieval fortification built under Charles IV. Far fewer visitors come here than to the funicular side of Petřín, which makes it one of the most peaceful green places close to the centre.
A little history
At first there were forests on this slope, and in the Middle Ages vineyards. In the first half of the 19th century the Kinský family bought the land and, in the 1830s, had it laid out as an English-style landscape park with winding paths, ponds and a small waterfall. At the foot of the slope they built the Empire-style Kinský Summer Palace, which today houses the ethnographic exhibition of the National Museum.
Kinský Garden photos
The wooden church of St Michael
Higher up in the garden stands the wooden Church of St Michael the Archangel, a beautiful and unique church in Prague. It is a Carpathian timber church that was dismantled and brought to Prague in 1929 from the region then known as Subcarpathian Ruthenia, and it has been used for Orthodox services. The church was badly damaged by fire in 2020 and has been undergoing restoration, so check its current state before you plan pictures around it. The photos below show it as it looked before the fire.
How to get there
The main entrance is from náměstí Kinských in Smíchov; the nearest tram stop is Švandovo divadlo. You can also walk in from the top of Petřín through a gate in the Hunger Wall and come down through the garden, which is the easier direction. The park is free and open at all times; for the museum in the summer palace, check the National Museum website for current opening times.
Photographing Kinský Garden
- Views. The upper paths open onto the Vltava, the Dancing House, the National Theatre and the towers of the New Town. A telephoto lens is useful for picking out details.
- Light. The slope faces south-east, so morning gives the best light on the view and on the palace. In late afternoon the trees give soft, dappled shade that is pleasant for portraits.
- Seasons. Autumn is outstanding, with the whole hillside turning yellow and red. In spring the lawns and blossom are fresh, and the ponds give nice reflections.
- Crowds. Even on weekends it is easy to find an empty path, which is why I like it for relaxed couple and family sessions.
Looking for other places to visit and photograph? Browse more Prague guides on this site.
