In today's 4K Prague walk, we will walk through the Vinohrady district, the most beautiful part of it, where Havlíček Gardens (Grébovka - Havlíčkovy sady) is located. We will start at Peace Square, walk along Americká Street and end at Havlíček Gardens.

Havlíček Gardens (Grébovka - Havlíčkovy sady), inspired by the Italian Renaissance, has fountains and water cascades, lakes, pavilions, statues, and a charming grotto, as well as a unique view of the city. The lovely vineyard Gazebo is surrounded by extensive vineyards. The Grébovka Pavilion garden café, with its fantastic replica of the original historic bowling alley from the 1870s, offers pleasant places to sit. The Gröbovka garden is defined by the street called U Havlíčkových sadů, Rybalkova Street and the Botič Stream. It was established as an actual part of the newly built estate of factory owner Moritz Gröbe. Villa Gröbe (Gröbovka, Grébovka)In the slope between Botič and Vinohrady, there used to be two estates with vineyards, Dolní (Lower) and Horní (Upper) Landhauska. In 1870, both the estates and the land plots were purchased by en entrepreneur Moritz Gröbe. He had the Upper Landhauska demolished and built his summer residence there, creating a beautiful English park around it. The two-storied villa in a style of a spectacular Italian Renaissance dwelling was designed by Antonín Barvitius. The actual construction was conducted by builder František Havel in 1871 - 88. The interiors were designed by Josef Schulz. The house's facade, just under the roof, is decorated by a band of frescoes with children's motives by painter Kugler. The sculptural decorations in the interior are the work of sculptor Item. A massive terrace on the villa's ground floor is connected with the recently renewed St. Clara's Vineyard on the slope below the house via a two-flight staircase. There is a splendid view of the town's Southern part from the ground-floor terrace. After Gröbe died, his heirs rented the villa. The granddaughter of Emperor Franz Joseph I found accommodation here with her husband, prince Windischgrätz. When the prince was ordered to Vienna, they left the villa. In 1905, everything was purchased by the Vinohrady district. For a time, the house was used by the University of Forestry. In 1937, the City of Prague established a Baxa's habitat facility for children's tours for temporary accommodation for the youth visiting Prague. It was named after chief magistrate Baxa. During the occupation, the villa was annexed by the German Nazi organization for the youth Hitlerjugend. On 14th February 1945, it was severely damaged with a part of the garden by bombing and subsequent fire. After the war, it was re-opened in 1953, and it was used as a House of pioneers and youth. There were some insensitive interventions, both constructional and in decorations. At present, the objects are maintained by the Prague 2 municipality. Reconstruction was completed in 2007.
The residential house at Lower Landhauska was preserved but modified in a new-Renaissance style. The formation of the surrounding premises was also inspired by the Italian Renaissance - the terrace and staircase leading to the vineyard, Grotta, theatron with a fountain and water cascade, a pond and waterworks, pavilions, and statues by Bohuslav Schnirch. The Grotta and the rock gardens were designed by Josef Vorlíček.
Moritz Gröbe died in 1891, and it was problematic and costly for his heirs to keep the estate running. After the death of Gröbe's wife, they rented it, and in 1905 they sold it to the town of Královské Vinohrady, which made some necessary modifications, and on the 16th May 1906, opened it to the public under the name of Havlíček's Park. The natural diversity of the place was used in establishing the garden. Park modifications were from the beginning realized in the spirit of an attractive year-round place with picturesque corners and nicely perfected terraces. The garden was well kept and locked in even until World War things. The bombing of Prague on 14th February 1945 damaged the villa, the entrance gate, the vivarium (small zoo), and the garden became freely accessible without limitations. After clearing war traces, the park's historical value was gradually destroyed due to the lack of finances for maintenance and vandalism. In 1964, the area was declared an immovable cultural monument. There is a very diversified assortment of woody plants in the garden - up to 120 kinds. The vineyard was established in place of a former terrain shift, to which 60,000 horse carriages of earth were brought during the construction of the Vinohrady tunnel. Among the varieties grown in the vineyard, there is also Müller - Thurgau, Pinot Gris, and Pinot noir. The vineyard extends on 1.7 ha, and annual wine production amounts to 4,000 liters.

Recorded in 4k 60fps HDR
Perception Philosophy © 2022
4th April 2022
Czechia ASMR HDR

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