Letohrádek Hvězda

About the museum

The game park on the White Mountain was founded by Emperor Ferdinand I in 1534. In 1555 to 1556 a hunting summer palace was built here to a design by Archduke Ferdinand of Tyrol: a two-storey central building on a six-pointed star plan. It was constructed by the master builders G. M. Aostalli and G. Lucchese, and later also by B. Wohlmut. The stucco decoration of the ground-floor vaults from 1556–1560 is the first of its kind in the lands north of the Alps. The complex also includes the “salla terena” from 1558, one of the oldest ball courts in Bohemia, of which only a fragment survives.

In the 18th century the summer palace was damaged by troops camping in the game park, and from 1785 it served as an ammunition store, which was closed in 1874. After the founding of Czechoslovakia it came under the administration of Prague Castle; in 1948 to 1952 it was reconstructed to a design by Pavel Janák for the Alois Jirásek Museum, and further alterations continued until 2000. It opened to the public on 25 May 2000. It is a national cultural monument.

Since 2017 a permanent exhibition has been on view here about the founder of the summer palace, Ferdinand II of Tyrol, and about the architecture of the building; in the cellar there is a model of the Battle of White Mountain with tin soldiers. Seasonal exhibitions on personalities and periods of Czech literature and book culture, concerts and lectures are also held here. The summer palace is open only from April to October.

Highlights

• Renaissance summer palace on a six-pointed star plan, 1555–1556
• Stucco decoration of the vaults, 1556–1560
• Permanent exhibition on Ferdinand of Tyrol and the architecture of the summer palace
• Model of the Battle of White Mountain with tin soldiers in the cellar
• The Hvězda game park, freely accessible

Permanent exhibition

• Ferdinand II. Tyrolský a architektura letohrádku – The permanent exhibition (since 2017) is devoted to the founder of the summer palace, Archduke Ferdinand of Tyrol, and to the development of the building; the cellar holds a model of the Battle of White Mountain.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Památník národního písemnictví

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free-entry days in 2026: 28 September, 28 October (a Wednesday) and selected Sundays (4 October, 1 November, 6 December).

Free entry is also available to holders of AMG and ICOM cards and to persons with a Ukrainian passport. Tickets are sold at the ticket office and online. The last admission to the summer palace is 45 minutes before closing time.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access is limited because of the historic building: a ramp from the outdoor staircase leads to the ground floor; the cellar and the first and second floors (banquet hall) are not step-free. The ticket office, café and toilets are accessible.

Kids & families

Family ticket CZK 300 (2 adults and 1–3 children).

Getting there & parking

The summer palace stands in the middle of the Hvězda game park in Prague 6 – Libocí, near the White Mountain.

Amenities & dining

• Café

There is a café by the summer palace; the ticket office and toilets are accessible.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The summer palace is used for wedding ceremonies, concerts, lectures and social events; the banquet hall on the second floor serves events and lectures and is not regularly accessible.

Plan your visit