The Grébovka vineyard has been growing for several centuries. PRAGUE 2 WITH NEW EYES
20/08/2022
Photo: Nikola Balcarová (as well as other images in the article, unless otherwise stated)
Description: Grébovka vineyard in Havlíčkovy sady
Only a few Prague vineyards can boast that they were established in the Middle Ages in the time of Charles IV. The historic Grébovka vineyard in Havlíčkové sady is such a rarity. It experienced a period of glory and prosperity, but it was also threatened with extinction in the past. The fact that it has survived several centuries to the present day is actually a minor miracle. The last time it was taken care of was the city district of Prague 2.
When Charles IV. ordered in the 14th century to plant the hills around Prague with vineyards, thereby changing the overall character of the landscape. Instead of forests, vineyards, fields and gardens surrounded the city behind the walls. Sometime during that time, a vineyard was established in the places where Grébovka park (Havlíčkovy sady) is now.
Altán Grébovka, one of the most romantic wine bars in all of Prague. Visitors can sometimes drink wine directly from the Grébovka vineyard. Social events, wedding receptions, as well as regular sales exhibitions of paintings, photographs and sculptures, associated with openings, are often held in the gazebo.
Perkmeister of the Vineyard Mountains
On the vineyards that in the Middle Ages stretched from Modřany through Podolí and along the southern slope above the Botič stream, then called Vinný potok, towards Žižkov, Libni and Troja, there were not only vines. Watchtowers, cellars, sheds for sleeping and sometimes even more spectacular pavilions were built on them for a short stay of vineyard owners. A perkmeister of the vineyard mountains was appointed, who resolved disputes between people who damaged the vineyards, as well as between the winegrowers themselves. His son Václav IV. he continued Karl’s efforts and established other vineyards that became an ornament of the landscape. Viniční chasa received a new regulation, which regulated the working hours, including news, an hour break for lunch.
The wine in the Grébovka vineyard is currently ripening. The harvest traditionally takes place at the beginning of September.
But then the Hussite wars came and devastated the vineyards. Some have disappeared. Jiří z Poděbrady tried to restore their glory, but the peak came only under Ferdinand I. At that time, more wealthy townspeople bought vineyards and built vineyard estates, pavilions, buildings with turrets on them. That’s how it went until the battle on Bílá Hora, when the turning point came again. The Thirty Years’ War meant disaster for the vineyards. Nobody took care of them, they were plowed up, their importance decreased, and finally Joseph II. in 1783, he abolished the office of Perkmister.
Gröbe’s villa, photo of Municipal Council Prague 2
The glorious era of Moritz Gröbe
Moritz Gröbe continued the famous era of wine-growing in Grébovce in the 19th century, where parks and vineyards are named. He bought individual vineyard estates, built a magnificent villa (today known as Gröbe’s villa) and had the slope where the quarry was originally dug up and transformed into a vineyard. After his death, the park and vineyard were alternately opened to the public and closed. In February 1945, part of the park was destroyed by bombs during an air raid by allied troops. Havlíček’s orchards and vineyards were deserted, the vineyard was freely accessible and at night lovers, drinking parties and vandals came here. The year 1989 came and with it again thoughts about the liquidation of the vineyards. That changed when in 1992-1993 the vineyard was taken over by the city district of Prague 2. To restore it, it hired the renowned winegrower Antonín Tureček, whose family, Mr. and Mrs. Bulánk, takes care of the vineyard to this day. Tureček planted the slope with new bushes and tasted the first harvest in 1997.
This is what Gröbe’s villa looked like after the air raid in February 1945. Fthis is Prague 2 City Council
Pride of Prague 2
The heritage-protected vineyard is the pride of Prague 2. Even in the 21st century, it is worked on mainly by hand. The local varieties win professional awards for their wine quality. The city district of Prague 2 was also awarded for the reconstruction of Grébovka Park, which lasted 10 years and cost 365.3 million crowns, of which the city district paid more than two thirds. In the national round, the Municipal Council of Prague 2 was ranked among the three best in the country in the 2013 Program for the Regeneration of Municipal Monument Reservations and Municipal Monument Zones, and also won the regional round. For part of the revitalization of the park, the city district won another victory in the region, the title of Monument of the Year 2013. Two buildings in Havlíčkové sady – Pavilon and Grotta (artificial cave) – also received awards in the Regeneration Program.
Pavilion Grébovka, photo of Municipal Council Prague 2
The main thing, however, is that the people of Prague liked Grébovka. And the local September harvest becomes a magnet for the Prague autumn, when tens of thousands of people head to the park to taste wine and burčák. Including varieties from the local historical vineyard Grébovka.
Posted by: Markéta Vančová