12. The Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden of Science, Charles University serves not only to teach students of botany, but also as a place for tourists and residents of Prague 2 to relax. It covers an area of 3.5 hectares and one can find a greenhouse (glasshouse) and outdoor spaces. The Greenhouse is a permanent exhibition of tropical and subtropical plants, mainly represented by various species of cacti. You can find here large specimens of Cycads, Camellias, and Myrtha. The Greenhouse attracts most attention when Royal Victoria blooms, a huge water lilly with leaves that can support a six-year-old child. In the outdoor exhibition is a significant 130 year old Ginko biloba specimen.

Outdoor
The Outdoor Exhibition was founded in 1904 and since then it has maintained a continuous collection of Central European flora and an exhibition of medicinal plants. When you walk in this garden, imagine its history.

History
It is almost unbelievable that the history of botanical gardens in Prague dates back to the 14th century. The personal physician of Chalres IV, Angelo of Florence, founded the first botanical garden in Prague on the site of today’s main post office on Jindřišská street. The cultivated plants were used to prepare medicines and ointments, which were then sold from 1353 in Prague at the first pharmacy in the „At the Angel“ house at the Lesser Square. Since then, the popularity of the botanical gardens in Prague grew. From 1600 the Jesuits have a garden in Lesser Town. In 1775, Maria Theresa had set up another botanical garden in Smichov where the Dientzenhoferových orchards are today. At the time that garden was considered the best botanical garden north of the Alps. There were 9 greenhouses from which grew 13 thousand species and varieties of plants. The garden at this time belonged to the University of Prague. Unfortunately, due to the growing industrialization of Smichov, the garden suffered greatly and in 1890 it was substantially damaged during a flood. University Management therefore decided to move to its current premises in New Town. And from that moment on, we write the history of the Botanical Gardens in the Slupi (street name) as we know it today. In the 18th century the gardens as well as other parts of Prague were divided into separate Czech and German parts. The Czech part was reconstructed after the wartime bombing and still survives today. It now boasts not only a beautiful garden but a newly reconstructed greenhouse from 1996-1999.

The most beautiful periods for visiting
Spring is one of the most beautiful periods for visiting the garden and it is strongly recommended. During this period you will find many beautiful flowering azaleas and rhododendrons.

Adress:
Na Slupi 16
128 00 Praha 2 – Nové Město
Phone: 224 918 970
Fax: 224 918 970
E-mail: botazah@natur.cuni.cz
Web: http://www.cuni.cz/UK-945.html, http://www.natur.cuni.cz/

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