The Belvedere Summer Palace in Prague is located in the eastern part of the Royal Garden, north of Prague Castle. It was built by order of Ferdinand I in 1538 and is also known as the "Summer Palace of Queen Anne". It is called "the purest example of Renaissance architecture north of the Alps", and its unique copper roof in the shape of an upturned ship`s hull and the "Singing Fountain" in front of the palace make this corner of Prague Castle one of the most elegant.
The name "Belvedere" comes from the Italian belvedere — "beautiful view". The palace stands on a gentle slope in the eastern part of the Royal Garden, from where a panorama of the Old Town and the Vltava opens up. But the significance of this building goes far beyond a viewing platform: it was a key architectural project of the Habsburgs in Central Europe, demonstrating imperial power and Renaissance taste. It is the first true Renaissance villa north of the Alps.
History of the Belvedere Summer Palace
According to the traditional version, the Belvedere was a gift from Ferdinand I to his wife Anna of Jagiellon. Anna was the heiress to the Czech and Hungarian thrones, and this marriage brought the Habsburgs power over both kingdoms. However, modern research shows that the mythological programme of the reliefs on the building conveys the idea of Habsburg power in Central Europe — it was not simply a private pleasure building, but an instrument of politics.
In 1537 Ferdinand I ordered a model of a "Lusthaus" (pleasure palace) in Genoa. The following year the sculptor and architect Paolo della Stella brought the model to Prague, and in April 1538 construction began.
A long and complex construction
Work continued from 1538 to 1563 — twenty-five years, considerably longer than had been intended. The reasons:
• The fire of Prague Castle in 1541: although the Belvedere did not burn down, the destruction in the Castle halted work for a long time
• Conflicts between the Italian masters and the Bohemian Diet: the Diet, which financed the construction, constantly quarrelled with the architects, and the management of the site kept changing
• A change of design in 1554: it was decided to add a second floor, which required reworking the plan
• Those who took part in the construction included Giovanni Spazio, Paolo della Stella and Hans Tirol, and it was completed by Bonifaz Wohlmut in 1563.
Architecture: a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance in Prague
The Belvedere is a rectangular building with two floors. The main façade faces the Royal Garden, while from the eastern façade there is a view of the Old Town.
Its most recognisable detail is the copper roof in the shape of an upturned ship`s hull, crowned with a small turret. This shape is untypical of Czech architecture and emphasises the Italian origin of the design.
The lower floor is encircled by an arcade-loggia with 36 columns. Between the columns are 114 reliefs on mythological, historical and allegorical subjects — from ancient gods to scenes from the life of the Habsburgs. The reliefs were created according to a programme glorifying the dynasty.
Interior
Inside, the Belvedere is more modest than outside. The first floor is occupied by a large hall with a coffered ceiling, while the second floor is an enfilade of small rooms. The interior decoration has not survived in its original form; today exhibitions are held here.
The Singing Fountain
In front of the western façade of the Prague Belvedere stands the Singing Fountain (Zpívající fontána) — one of the most famous Renaissance fountains in Europe. It was cast in 1564–1568 to a design by Francesco Terzio in the workshop of Tomáš Jaroš.
The fountain is a bronze sculptural group: two boys and two female figures hold a bowl from which water flows downwards. The fountain received its name thanks to an acoustic effect: the jets of water, striking the bronze elements, produce a light sound resembling ringing or singing.
The Royal Garden
The Belvedere is the centre of the Royal Garden (Královská zahrada), laid out in 1534 by order of Ferdinand I in the Italian style. Also in the garden are:
• The Singing Fountain — in front of the palace
• The Orangery — built in 1999–2001 on the site of the historic one
• The Palm Orangery — 1990s
• The Míčovna (game pavilion) — for ball games
The garden is open to the public from April to October, admission free.
Practical information
• Address: Royal Garden, Prague Castle, Prague 1
• How to get there: tram to the Královský letohrádek stop, or on foot from Prague Castle through the Royal Garden
• Opening hours: the Royal Garden is open daily from April to October, usually from 10:00 to 18:00 (until 19:00 in summer)
• Admission: to the garden — free; the interior of the Belvedere can only be entered during exhibitions (a ticket is purchased separately)
• Time: allow 1–1.5 hours to see the palace from outside and the garden
The Belvedere is not simply a beautiful building. It is a monument to how the Habsburgs asserted their power in Central Europe through architecture and art. Its elegant proportions, unique roof and Singing Fountain make it an obligatory stop for any traveller who finds themselves at Prague Castle.
