Obora Hvezda is one of the best forest parks in Prague. It was originally a game reserve, established in 1534 by Ferdinand I on land owned by nearby Břevnov Monastery. Its name, Hvězda, means ‘star’, the shape of the fascinating Renaissance summer palace (Letohrádek Hvězda), one of the most stunning examples of Prague architecture from the 16th century.
Hvězda Prague is popular with locals, and it’s a world away from the most popular Prague attractions a few miles away. If you’re on a longer Prague itinerary – five days or more – or are visiting Prague with kids – Hvězda Park Prague is a wonderful place to escape the crowds and get back to nature for a couple of hours or so.
Where To Stay Within Reach Of Obora Hvězda
Hotel Adalbert – one of the best quieter places to stay in Prague, in 18th-century Baroque monastic buildings in the grounds of the thousand-year-old Břevnov Monastery
OREA Hotel Pyramida Praha – hugely popular late Communist-era hotel in brilliant location for Prague Castle district, and also on tram routes to the west of the city
Hotel Valcha – modern hotel on the Břevnov and Hvězda 22 and tram routes, also within easy reach of Prague Castle and the city centre
What Is There To Do in Hvězda?
Much of the reserve is forested, and there are three main wide tree-lined avenues, each leading to the small Garden outside the Summer Palace.
There are two great playgrounds in the Park – one a three-minute walk from the northern entrance, in the middle of the forest, and the other next to the Garden, facing the Summer Palace. The forest one is full of wooden climbing frames, a superb place for the kids to clamber and run amok for a while.
The forest is a great place to explore, with plenty of paths criss-crossing the reserve. We first visited in summer, the trees providing welcome shade from the burning sun overhead. The forest is a superb place to experience Prague in autumn, along with Divoká Šarka and, on the other side of town, Pruhonice Park.
The Summer Palace is well worth a closer look, and during the summer months it hosts art exhibitions. The café across the courtyard is a shady spot to enjoy some refreshments.
Obora Hvězda also played a very important part in Czech history. It is very close to Bila Hora Prague – around 1 km on foot. Bila Hora – White Mountain – gave its name to the 1620 Battle between Bohemian and Austrian forces. The battlefield was over a mile across, encompassing Obora Hvězda.
It was a disaster for the Bohemians, who suffered a resounding defeat. They remained under Austrian Imperial rule for 298 years – until 1918. It was only after Austria-Hungary was defeated in World War I that Czechoslovakia gained independence.
See Also: 27 Amazing Hidden Gems In Prague and 55 Amazing Things To Do In Prague – By A Local
Where is Obora Hvězda in Prague?
Obora Hvězda is located in the west of Prague, close to the suburb of Petřiny. It’s around 6 km (4 miles) west of Prague city centre, and 2 km from the magnificent Břevnov Monastery. It’s also just 1 km from Divoká Śarka, a larger forested Prague park to the north.
Getting to Obora Hvězda Prague
The nearest tram stop is at Sídliště Petřiny, where trams 1 and 2 terminate. From there, turn left onto U Hvězda, continue to the T-junction and turn right. The entrance to Hvězda Park is across the street (Na Vypichu) on the left – a total of around 400 metres from the tram stop.
Tram 2 stops at both Staroměstská and Malostranská, either side of the Manes Bridge, so it’s very easy to reach from the centre. Tram 1 passes through Holešovice, to the north of the river.
Trams 22 and 25 also stop within a similar distance to Hvězda. Confusingly, the Vypich tram stop is more convenient than the Obora Hvězda one – a path leads directly from there to one of the three main avenues through the Park.
Are There Places To Eat in Hvězda?
There is a small café serving sandwiches, cakes, drinks and ice cream next to the Summer Palace.
We also heartily recommend Restaurace U Holečku, 50 metres from the Hvězda entrance. They serve excellent traditional Czech food (svičková, duck, pork, dumplings and more) at around half the price you would pay in Prague Old Town Square.
Obora Hvězda Prague – Final Words
I hope you find this guide to Obora Hvězda in Prague useful.
We’ve always found it one of the most enjoyable parks in Prague to visit. Its location means that you can make a day trip out of it. You can either walk over to the site of the Battle of Bilá Hora or to the wilder, rockier terrain of Divoká Šárka a mile in the opposite direction.
There are many fantastic Prague parks to visit – it’s a brilliant city for the outdoors.
The area around Malá Strana, below Prague Castle, is outstanding. Petřin Hill Prague is wonderful, a steep hill with a funicular railway and superb views of Prague. At the top you’ll find Petřin Tower, Prague’s mini-Eiffel Tower.
Down the hill near the Vltava River, don’t miss Vojanovy Sady Prague. It’s a hidden walled garden in the grounds of a former monastery and one of the best quiet boltholes in the city.
A short distance away in Holešovice, Letná Park Prague is a superb city park with a great beer garden and one of the best viewpoints in Prague.
We also recommend Stromovka Park Prague, a former royal hunting ground, now a great escape with woodland, lakes and more.
And just outside the city limits, Pruhonice Park Prague is a stunning World Heritage landscaped park. It has a Renaissance Revival Castle, lakes, meadows and woodland on the southeast outskirts of the city.
Having lived in Prague for over four years, I’ve written extensively about my former home city, and here’s a selection of further articles for you to browse through:
Formal Gardens In Prague
Prague Gardens – the stunning formal gardens of Prague
Vrtba Garden – glorious early Baroque terraced garden in Mala Strana
Top Sights In Prague
55 Amazing Things To Do In Prague – By A Former Local
Charles Bridge Prague – one of the most beautiful bridges in the world
Old Town Square Prague – one of the most beautiful squares in the world
Týn Church Prague – stunning Gothic church with fairytale spires
Landmarks of Prague – 22 unmissable sights in the city
Jewish Prague – all Jewish sites in Prague, including those beyond the Josefov district
Hidden Gems in Prague -27 off the beaten track sights to seek out
How To Visit Prague Zoo – one of the best in Europe
National Museum Prague – the biggest, best Museum in the Czech Republic
Prague by Area
Old Town Prague – one of the most captivating old towns in Europe
New Town Prague – the modern heart of the Czech capital – but a taste of the old is never far away
Malá Strana Prague – the enchanting Baroque ‘Lesser Quarter’ below Prague Castle
Kampa Island Prague– the most beautiful and intriguing of Prague’s islands
Vltava River in Prague– everything there is to see along the river in the Czech capital
Žižkov Prague – the former working class renegade and artists’ hangout, as quirky as ever, with some of the best pubs in Prague
Holešovice Prague – Prague 7, one of the best modern areas to explore in the city
Themed Articles On Prague
Churches in Prague – 20 wondrous churches from St Vitus Cathedral to a modernist masterpiece in Vinohrady
Communist Prague – 18 Fascinating Places To Explore
Sunsets In Prague – the 10 best places to see them
Prague Streets – the city’s most beautiful streets
Prague World War 2 Sites – including the Heydrich Assassination Site and more
David Angel
David Angel is a British writer and photographer who has been travelling and photographing Europe for over 25 years. His work is regularly featured in worldwide media including the BBC, the Guardian, the Times and the Sunday Times.