Prague's historic Rothmayer villa garden opens free to public

Prague residents and visitors have a new serene escape in the capital. The Museum of Prague has officially opened the historic garden of the Rothmayer villa, located on the border of the Břevnov and Střešovice neighborhoods.

The garden, which sits near the Central Military Hospital, is now accessible to the public free of charge. It will open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends, aligning with the villa's scheduled guided tours.

"The garden of the Rothmayer villa is a unique place with a calm atmosphere," Eliška Zlatohlávková, head of the villa department at the Museum of Prague, told reporters. "We want to open it as a space where anyone can come, sit down, take a moment to pause, and be away from the hustle and bustle of the city."

The villa and its surrounding grounds hold significant architectural and cultural value for the Czech capital. Architect Otto Rothmayer built the family home between 1928 and 1929, basing the design on concepts by the famous Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. Rothmayer was Plečnik’s student and collaborator, working closely with him on major renovations of Prague Castle and Lány Castle for President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

The property served as a significant cultural hub during the mid-20th century. Rothmayer and his wife, the textile artist Božena Rothmayerová, frequently hosted family and friends in the romantic garden. Over the years, they decorated the outdoor space with small artifacts, including colorful glass sculptures by the renowned Czech glass artists René and Miluše Roubíček.

The garden’s distinct atmosphere is already familiar to Czech art lovers. It famously inspired Rothmayer’s close friend, the legendary Czech photographer Josef Sudek, who captured the space in his celebrated photographic series "Magic Garden."

The opening ceremony also marked the launch of a new book titled Střešovice: From Workers' Houses to Villa Elegance. The publication details the historical transformation of the local district from a rural settlement into a prestigious First Republic villa neighborhood.