troja castle Prague Image of troja Castle in springtime with cherry blossom on trees

Troja Castle Prague: A stunning chateau and Baroque garden

Troja Castle Prague is a splendid Baroque chateau on the outskirts of the city, and it’s also home to one of the most beautiful Prague gardens. Troja Palace is now part of the Prague City Art Gallery, and hosts part of its collection there.

Troja is one of the most popular areas of Prague with visitors. Three Prague attractions are in close proximity of each other, with the most popular – Prague Zoo – right across the street from Troja Chateau Prague. It’s also just down the hill from the lovely Prague Botanical Garden.

Troja Castle Prague – An Introduction

Image of Troja Palace Prague
Troja Palace and its gorgeous Gardens
Image of stucco decoration in the Garden at Troja Castle Prague
Superb stucco decoration on a gateway in the Garden at Troja
Image of frescoes in the main hall at troja Castle Prague
The amazing frescoes in the Main Hall at Troja Castle
Image of an art installation in the Garden at Troja Palace Prague
Some contemporary art is also exhibited in the Baroque Garden

Troja Castle is one of the most visible landmarks of Prague, visible from some of the best-known towers in Prague, including the Petrin lookout tower and Great South Tower of St Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle

The Palace is one of the finest examples of Baroque period Prague architecture, and dates from the late 17th century, when it was built for the Counts of Sternberg

Its style is strongly influenced by French and Italian Baroque, and the principal architect was Jean-Baptiste Mathey

The magnificent main hall is decorated with frescoes depicting the defeat of the Ottoman Turkish forces near Vienna in 1683 – they are the work of Dutch artists Abraham and Izak Godin

Prague City Gallery’s collection of 19th-century Czech art is housed in the main hall and adjoining rooms

What To See At Troja Castle Prague

Image of Troja Castle and Baroque Garden
The east side of the Palace from the Garden
Image of the main staircase at Troja Chateau Prague
The ornate Baroque main staircase at Troja Castle Prague
Image of ornamental vases on the terrace at Troja Castle in Prague
One of Bombelli’s vases on the terrace at Troja

Troja Palace is stately and sumptuous inside and out. The striking red and white exterior is superb, especially from its equally outstanding Palace Garden

The staircase at the main entrance is especially striking, with a series of bold figures of gods and giants. There is also a series of Italian-style ornamental vases on the east terrace

The gardens have classic Baroque features, especially parterres with flower beds. The frescoes on the ceiling of the main hall are one of the most surprising things to see in Prague, given that they are so seldom mentioned elsewhere

Where Is Troja Chateau?

Image of Troja Castle from the vineyard at Prague Botanical Garden
Troja Castle is in the north of Prague, around three miles from the main Prague sights

Troja is just to the north of the Vltava River in Prague, in the north-west of the city. It’s only around 5 km from the city centre, via the suburb of Holešovice. You can reach Holešovice from Prague city centre very easily, by the Metro (red line C) and several trams.

It’s also just across the street from Prague Zoo, one of the most popular places to visit in the city.

See Also: 27 Wonderful Hidden Gems In Prague

How To Get To Troja Castle Prague?

Image of Troja Castle and Garden Prague
Troja is on the edge of the city but very easy to reach

The regular 112 bus service runs from Nádraži Holešovice to Prague Zoo (Zoologicka Zahrada). You can reach Holešovice station by the red Prague Metro line C – the bus stop is close to the McDonald’s, and just off Plynarni.

We are regular visitors to Troja Prague, and catch the 17 tram as far as Trojska, just across the river. The 112 bus stops 100 metres before this – the stop is called Povltavska – or 100 metres afterwards, first left around the corner – the stop and street are both called Trojska.

It’s also possible to reach Troja by boat – the trips, such as this one with Prague Steamboats – are advertised as cruises to the Zoo, but Troja Palace Prague is the same distance – around 1 km – from the boat as the Zoo’s main entrance, right across the street. This option is usually available between April and the end of September.  

When Is The Best Time To Visit Troja Castle?

Image of Troja Castle Prague in summer
Flower beds in Troja Castle Garden – summer is a great time to visit

We first visited Troja Castle and Gardens during the summer, when it was wonderful. However, April is even better, just after the Palace and Gardens reopen after winter, when the Japanese cherry blossom trees make for one of the most beautiful sights in Prague in springtime. I’d even suggest that it’s one of the best places to see spring flowers in Europe.

When Is Troja Castle Open?

Image of a fountain in Troja Gardens with the Castle in the background
The main fountain at Troja

As is the case with other prominent gardens in Prague, Troja Castle is open between April and October, Tuesdays to Sundays 1000 to 1800, with the exception of Fridays, when it’s open 1300 to 1800. It is closed on Mondays.

How Much Are Troja Castle Prague Tickets?

Image of flowers at Troja Castle in Prague
The Gardens and Palace in summer
  • Entry to the Gardens is free.
  • Tickets to the Castle cost 120 CZK for adults, 60 CZK for children and seniors and 250 CZK for a family.
  • The ticket office is at the back of the building – turn right when you enter.

What Else Is There To See in Troja Prague?

Image of the St Clare Vineyard at Prague Botanical Garden
The St Clare Chapel and Vineyard are part of Prague Botanical Garden
image of a flower in a greenhouse at the Botanical Garden in Prague

Troja is one of our favourite places to visit in Prague, with Prague Zoo and the Prague Botanical Gardens right on the doorstep.

Prague Zoo’s main entrance is 50 metres away across the street from the side entrance to Troja Castle Gardens. It’s far and away one of the best things to do in Prague with kids, and it’s somewhere we’ve taken our son a great many times. For a detailed guide and pointers for the best animals to see while you’re there, take a look at my How To Visit Prague Zoo guide.

The Prague Botanical Garden is the third Troja attraction. Part of it – the picturesque St Clare’s Vineyard and Chapel are just behind Troja Castle, and is one of the best viewpoints in Prague.

Troja Castle Prague – Final Thoughts

I hope you have enjoyed this guide and the images I shot at Troja. It’s a beautiful part of the city, well worth a trip there, whether you’re going to the Zoo (which I recommend, kids or no kids) or not.

I lived in Prague for over four years, and have written many articles about the city. Here is a selection for you to browse:

Prague Gardens – the complete guide to Prague’s formal gardens

Vrtba Garden Prague – hidden gem in Mala Strana with astounding views of the city

Wallenstein Gardens Prague – stunning Baroque garden below Prague Castle

Petřin Hill Prague – hilly park and gardens with stunning views over Prague

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

Hidden Gems in Prague -27 off the beaten track sights to seek out

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

Vltava River in Prague– everything there is to see along the river in the Czech capital

Holešovice Prague– one of the coolest neighbourhoods 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

Prague Streets – the city’s most beautiful streets

Prague Parksgreen escapes, riverside walks, beer gardens and more

More Castles Near Prague

Konopiště Castle – home to Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria

Karlštejn Castle – imposing behemoth of a Castle in countryside near Prague

Křivoklát Castle – early medieval royal Castle in remote forest west of Prague

Mělník – wine town with Castle and much more an hour north of Prague