The Baroque terraces
Carved stairs and pergolas climbing the slope as salons.
Pastorius Original uploader was Pastorius at cs.wikipedia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Falk2 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sage Ross — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sage Ross — CC BY-SA 3.0
Baroque stairways hung on the castle's south slope: five adjoining noble palace gardens (Ledebour, Pálffy, Kolowrat, Small and Great Fürstenberg) climb in terraces from Malá Strana's lanes to the castle walls — every terrace an open salon: lawns enthroned, carved stairs, pergolas, muraled loggias. Their secret is being the loveliest least-crowded thing in the most-crowded city: you enter a modest door on Valdštejnská street and ascend private heavens that belonged to the empire's families — the view widening terrace by terrace to the full red-tiled panorama of Prague from the top: the left bank's finest photographic balconies by a comfortable margin. The upper passage exits straight into the castle's own garden — so make them your clever ascent: instead of the packed castle stairs, salon stairways of paid-for quiet, ending at the very ramparts.
Carved stairs and pergolas climbing the slope as salons.
All Prague from the top terrace — the left bank's first balcony.
Valdštejnská 12-14, 118 00 Prague
Lobkowicz PalaceLobkowicz Palace is the only privately owned building inside the walls of Prague1 minute walk4.5
Golden LaneThe Golden Lane is a small street inside the walls of Prague Castle, its houses 2 minutes walk4.5
St. Vitus CathedralSt Vitus Cathedral is the building that gives Prague's skyline its shape: its so4 minutes walk4.7
Royal Garden of Prague CastleThe Royal Garden runs north of Prague Castle, separated from its walls by the de4 minutes walk4.8
St Nicholas Bell TowerAn eighteenth-century bell tower attached to St Nicholas Church in Malá Strana, 4 minutes walk4.6Complementary twins: Wallenstein (the Senate's palace) is flat grandeur — giant loggia, free peacocks, free entry in season — while these are the climbing terraces with the views, paid. The ideal single afternoon: Wallenstein first, its gate steps from these — then up the terraces exiting at the castle: the city's completest green corridor.