Letenske Sady

By Jennifer Page

Just underneath Prague Castle, there is a sloping hill that goes from one garden to another. The biggest of these gardens is Letenske Sady or Letna.  Just a short tram ride from school, Letenske Sady is a perfect place to grab lunch, relax in the sun, and see some of the best views of the city thanks to the hilltop vantage point of the park.  “Letenske’s flat expanse of land has been the time-honored meeting place for attacking armies.  Under the Communists, the park was used mainly for May Day parades, and once housed the largest statue of Stalin in the world before it was blown up in 1962.”  Now in its place is the symbolic red metronome, which can be seen from the city, especially at night when it is lit-up.  Letenske Sady is a great people-watching park.  By the metronome, there are groups of skateboarders. The beautiful Hanavsky Pavilion is a nice, inexpensive restaurant that has the best views in the park. There are also several smaller cafes to buy beer and small food dishes. From the numerous trails, you can cross the bridge and be in Chotkovy Sady, where there are shaded paths and a waterfall.  From there, the beautiful royal garden brings you right to the foot of the castle.  At the Metronome you may take the stairs underneath it and connect to the river and street leading right to Old Town Square.  Historical Information was taken from Rough Guides Directions: Prague by Rob Humphreys. Published April 2005