Queen Anne's Summer Palace

Mariánské hradby, Czech Republic (Czechia)

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Queen Anne's Summer Palace, also known as the Belvedere, is a Renaissance building located in the Royal Garden of Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. It was commissioned by King Ferdinand I in 1538 as a gift for his wife, Queen Anne of Bohemia and Hungary, and was completed in 1560.

The palace is considered one of the purest examples of Italian Renaissance architecture outside Italy, featuring an arcade gallery around the entire building and a distinctive copper roof shaped like an inverted ship's keel. Originally built for celebrations, balls, and royal leisure, the palace later served as an astronomical observatory under Emperor Rudolf II. It houses a famous 16th-century "Singing Fountain" in its courtyard, which produced musical sounds when water flowed through it, though it no longer sings today.

The palace is used mainly for art exhibitions and cultural events and is appreciated for its beautiful architectural details, rich relief decorations, and its setting within the historic Royal Garden near Prague Castle.