Alpinum
At the birth of Alpinum stood no less than the founder of the park himself, Count Arnošt Emanuel Silva – Tarouca. The beginning of its foundation dates back to the period around 1895, when the reconstruction of the castle and the rougher works in the park had already been completed and the opportunity to create a special detailed lot in the park presented itself. Alpinum is exceptional in its size and the beauty and richness of its plants. Approximately 1,500 species and cultivars of perennial herbs and woody plants from different regions of the world are currently grown on almost 6 hectares. The perennials are grown in large groups or in species-rich mixed stands that are easily visible from the year-round park paths. It is no wonder that it is still a popular and sought-after spot for rock gardeners today.
The Alpinum includes not only the rock itself, but also a number of adjacent habitats – e.g. the banks of the ponds and Botič, the Rose Garden, the stone terraces around the castle or the upper tree backdrop. The oldest part is the Old Alpinum, which is situated above the Podzámecký Pond, and the Main (Central) Alpinum, which starts at the site of the memorial plaque of the park’s founder and ends at the crossroads below the Chotobuz hill. Here you will find special areas such as a cactus rock with winter-hardy cacti, heathland, steppe, a vernal pool with wetland flora or nooks with thermophilous plants of the southern regions. Among historical specimens, visitors can admire, for example, the Pinus heldreichii ‘Smidt’ and the Picea abies ‘Formánek’, which were bred in the park and from there spread to Czech gardens. The third part, the Subchateau Alpinum, is directly connected to the chateau and was fully opened to park visitors after renovation in 2017.
Did you know that Alpinum is planted with tens of thousands of plants?
Over 30,000 seedlings were planted on the Alpinum alone during the 2014-2017 restoration.
Alpine cabin
The wooden cabin at the highest point of the Alpina was built with the intention of enhancing the illusion of mountain scenery. The inspiration for its construction came from Count Silva – Tarouca during his hunting expeditions in the Alps. However, it was not only an aesthetic addition; the Count also used it for rest and contemplation and for quite practical purposes, such as storing work tools. In 2023 it had to be completely renovated due to its state of disrepair.