Prague Castle – Production gardens (also Lumbe garden)

Prazsky hrad - Produkcni zahrady110918_032

Many of us would would like to know where the flowers for the castle receptions come from. These flowers come from the castle´s own production gardens (also Lumbe garden). The gardens are located next to the Riding Hall and they offer many curiosities including the presidential residence or Masaryk´s beehive.

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The gardens can be found in the na northern side of the Prague Castle behind Jízdárna (Riding Hall). The gardens cover the area of 4 hectars. One half is used as a orchard and a pond and the other half as a production section for greenhouses and flower beds.

History of the gardens
The Emperor Rudolf II established the so-called Bažantnice (Pheasantry) here where pheasants and partridges were kept. There also used to be farm buildings, runs for the pheasants and the breeder´s house. In the 17th and 18th century the pheasantry was largely damaged and the plots were rented. In 1852 they were purchased by the Prague surgeon Karel Lumbe. It is curious that the grounds were supposed to be divided into plots for the future new Prague´s district. Fortunately, the intention failed and the plots were in 1920s purchased by Kancelář prezidenta republiky (Office of the President of the Republic) and gardens for the needs of the Prague Castle were established here.

Gardens today
At present, flowers for decorative purposes of the Prague Castle are planted here. The flower beds are occupied by vegetables and there are plenty of fruit trees in the orchard. You can even find water-melons here.

Doctor Lumbe´s Villa – residence of the President of the Republic
The Empire villa was built by the Prague surgeon Karel Lumbe who purchased the plots of the present production gardens in 1852. At the beginning of the 20th century it was a residence of the painter Karel Jiránek who from the balcony painted the famous views of the Prague Castle. In 1925 the Office of the President of the Republic purchased the villa and the neighbouring plots and the house became the place for the production gardens. After the November Velvet Revolution there were speculations that the villa could be used as presidential residence. Václav Klaus, after he had become the president of the republic, chose Lumbe´s villa for his residence. Numerous modifications had to be caarried out to ensure the safety of the president of the republic. The total costs for the reconstruction reached 52 millions CZK.

Masarykův včelín (Masaryk´s beehive):
There is an interesting timber construction on the elevated place of the production gardens – the so-called Masarykův včelín (Masaryk´s beehive). President Masaryk was during his holiday in Slovakia enchanted by the traditional type of beehives. He entrusted the castle architect Josip Plečnik to built such a beehive for him. At present, the beehive is fully functional and the produced honey is used for protocolary purposes.

Greenhouses
There are two greenhouses to be found here. The older one constructed by Josip Plečnik is used for planting vegetables and flowers which are later moved to the gardens. Flowers for the protocolary purposes are planted in the new greenhouse which was built in 1998. You can even find orchids and other interesting plants here. There is a rarity – planting bananas – in our terms they occur at the end of December. The greenhouse covers the area of 2.100 m2 and is 7 meters high. Temperature and ventilation are automatic, watering is done manually.

Rudolfův rybník (Rudolf´s Pond)
The pond was founded by the Emperor Rudolf II. It served as a tank in case of fire and fish were bred and waterfowl used to nest there. The pond was fed by supply water from the system of the ponds around Hostivice and Litovice. Ice from the pond was used for refrigerating in the castle basements.

Opening hours
Production gardens are closed to common visitors. They are opened exclusively on open days or during the wine festival.

Where to find the gardens
The production gardens are located in the northern part of the Prague Castle at the side gate of the Riding Hall. The best way to get there is through the side entrance from the 2nd Courtyard in direction of Prašný most (Powder Bridge). There is a gate at the Riding Hall against the entrance to the Royal Garden which will take you to the production gardens. The entrance is strictly patrolled by the Castle Guard and the entrance is exclusively allowed with special permit.

Connection:
Tram: 18, 20, 22 , 57, 91 – Pražský hrad station

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