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The Flower Garden in Kroměříž (Kroměřížská Květná zahrada) is a place you should definitely visit. The entire town is very atmospheric and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list for a good reason! The gardens change with the seasons and it’s best to visit them during the flowering season!
Crossing the garden gates, you enter another world! Walking among the labyrinth of shrubs, it’s easy to imagine old times when bishops or their guests would stroll, relaxing in these extraordinary natural surroundings!
The Flower Garden in Kroměříž is a unique place worth visiting. Unusual architecture, well-kept greenery, and a piece of history, are just some of the reasons for a visit!
Location and access
The Flower Garden in Kroměříž is located less than a kilometer from the Market Square and the Archbishop’s Palace. The city itself is located in Eastern Moravia (Zlin Region). It is about 35 kilometers from the regional capital, Zlin, 108 km from Ostrava, and about 66 kilometers from Brno.
There’s a small parking lot in front of the garden entrance, but it doesn’t offer many spaces. It’s a paid parking. If you parked in the city center, you’ll have to walk for about 15 minutes to get to the gardens. If you are in Kroměříž by car, be mindful of the signs for paid parking zones, as you may be unpleasantly surprised if you don’t pay the parking fee.
Flower Garden in Kroměříž – tickets and opening hours
The opening hours of the flower garden vary depending on the season. It’s best to check them out on the garden’s website. The entrance ticket costs 140 CZK for an adult and 110 CZK for seniors and older youth. Children and young people aged 6-17 pay 40 CZK for a ticket.
There’s a possibility of guided tours. The ticket costs 200 CZK for an adult, and 160 CZK for seniors and youth. Children and young people aged 6-17 pay 60 CZK. You can also opt for a guided tour of the gardens and the rotunda. The ticket prices are the same as for guided tours.
The Flower Garden in Kroměříž has a free mobile app, which also comes in a Polish language version.
History of the Garden
The garden was established in the second half of the 17th century, initiated by Bishop of Olomouc, Charles of Liechtenstein-Castelcorn. The first phase of construction ended in 1675, and the second a few years later. The work was overseen by Filiberto Luchese, and after his death, by Giovanni Pieto Tencalla. Many believe that the main vision of the garden, inspired by French estates, was conceived by the bishop, and the architects were tasked with implementing it.
In 1668, the rotunda, which still stands today, was built in the garden. It was designed by Giovanni Pieto Tencalla. In 1908, the Foucault pendulum, demonstrating the Earth’s rotation, was installed within it. Through the years, the Flower Garden in Kroměříž underwent smaller and larger renovations, for instance during the times of Bishop Maximilian Josef Sommerau-Beckh or Theodor Kohn.
The garden is part of the “Kroměříž Gardens and Palace” monument, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1998. It regained its glory mainly thanks to the work conducted in the 1950s by Pavel Janák and the subsequent renovation in 2014.
What awaits you there?
As you probably noted in the ticket section, there are three tour options. First is a self-guided tour, which should take about 60 minutes, second is a guided tour, lasting about 90 minutes, and for groups, a reservation is required. For the tour of the rotunda, you should allocate about 30 minutes.
You enter the garden through a small pavilion, where winter gardens are also located. Then, you can freely wander among the bushes and flowers, but don’t forget to check out the Rotunda and the colonnade. The former, as I mentioned, was built in 1668 in the heart of the garden. The building is interesting on the outside, but it’s the interior that leaves the biggest impression. Colored glass windows, unusual murals, and architectural details make it a sight to behold.
The colonnade, or rather, the arched gallery, was established in 1671, also designed by Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. At 244 meters, it occupies one of the garden’s walls. It used to be a display site for 44 sculptures, 22 of which were male figures, and another 22 were women. The sculptures were created by Michael Mandík, who worked on them together with Michael Zürn the Younger. Inside the colonnade, there used to be fountains, but they didn’t survive to this day. On the front of the building, however, there are 46 busts of Greek and Roman gods, mythological heroes, and other beings. On top of the colonnade, there’s a viewing terrace, providing a great view of the garden.
Today, the Flower Garden in Kroměříž is a mix of styles. You can find elements of late Renaissance, Baroque, neoclassical, as well as features typical of French gardens. Many consider it one of the best examples of garden architecture in Europe. The whole complex is rectangular in shape, with dimensions of 300 x 485 meters.
In addition to flowers and shrubs, you’ll also find many small architectural features in the garden, such as benches, fountains, labyrinths, but also structures like the orange garden, greenhouses, aviary, and pheasantry.
What’s in the area?
The Flower Garden in Kroměříž is a unique place, but so is its surroundings. In the town itself, you can visit the Archbishop’s Palace with its extraordinary gardens, and Kroměříž itself is very charming. Kroměříž is located in the Zlin Region so you should definitely visit the capital, Zlin. It’s the city of Tomáš Baťa, where every corner shows his ideas. Don’t miss the Tomáš Baťa Museum with its exceptional exhibition of shoes.
Nearby, there’s also Holedšov. Although it’s a small town, it’s full of interesting things. It boasts a beautiful palace with amazing gardens and a well-preserved Szach Synagogue with a Jewish cemetery.
Worth visiting?
Do you have to be a gardening enthusiast to appreciate the beauty of this place? Absolutely not! The Flower Gardens in Kroměříž is an attraction that is definitely worth a visit. It’s unique in terms of plants, garden architecture, and the interesting history of the whole complex. A visit to Kroměříž without visiting this place would be incomplete, so make sure to schedule a visit!
