The legendary Koch Garden reopens to the public

Intricate walking paths, the unique sculptures of Mother with Child or Lovers, as well as niches with relaxation areas in a unique, historical environment – all this forms the legendary Koch Garden.

Before the capital city acquired this unique historical green space from the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic in 2022, the garden struggled for a long time with insufficient systematic maintenance. This led to a decrease in the species diversity of trees, as well as the disruption of architectural elements and works of art. Nevertheless, the garden was not completely inaccessible to the public. Since 2007, it has been regularly opened to the public during the Open Parks and Gardens Weekend, as well as during the European Heritage Days, and thousands of visitors have visited it during these events since 2022.

A major role in preserving the garden was played by the National Trust, n. o., which has regularly organised volunteer brigades here since 2007 focused on basic maintenance and making the area accessible. Hundreds of individual and corporate volunteers took part in the brigades, and without their efforts, the garden would have been practically impassable in many periods, and opening it to the public would have been impossible. Volunteer activities at the same time have significantly contributed to ensuring that this exceptional place was not forgotten and that public interest in its restoration was maintained. After several negotiations, a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Restoration of the Koch Garden was signed between the capital city and the National Trust, n. o.

Said Michaela Kubíková, director of the National Trust, n. o.:

“After many years of volunteer work and efforts to save the Koch Garden, we are pleased that a responsible owner has finally been found who understood its historical, cultural and social significance and has embarked on its comprehensive restoration. One part of the restoration is also a small interpretation and visitor centre, which will provide a background for educational activities, community events or activities supporting physical and mental health. Naturally, we are following the legacy of the founder of the Koch Garden, Karol Koch, who in the interwar period was already actively promoting the positive influence of nature and a quality environment on human health."

Since the acquisition of this national cultural monument by the capital city, a major cleanup has begun, during which up to 10 tonnes of waste have been removed from the garden. The grounds were completely cleaned; Bratislava benches were added, and old trees were trimmed for safety. The stairs and the fallen or collapsed retaining walls by the pool were also reconstructed. The garden has gradually been transformed into a space with an extraordinary historical atmosphere and has quickly become a popular and sought-after site.

Said the mayor of the capital city, Matúš Vallo:

“I’m very happy that we took the fate of the Koch Garden into our own hands and began making gradual renovations almost immediately after taking it over. A big thank you goes to our partners in the Interreg Slovakia-Austria programme as well as the VUB Bank Foundation, thanks to whom we were able to embark on the comprehensive renovation of this unique place. The Koch Garden is important to Bratislava not only because of its history, but also because it is a piece of a truly beautiful garden in the city centre, and I’m even more pleased that we can return this unique place to the people of Bratislava."

The capital city began its comprehensive renovation of the rare Koch Garden in the summer of 2025. As part of this, new greenery was planted so that the garden would once again become a beautiful green oasis in the centre of the city. The new planting strives to respect the historical species composition as much as possible while also preserving the collection character of the garden. Aside from the more than a dozen new, young, healthy trees, over 500 shrubs, thousands of perennials and aquatic plants have also been added.

What’s more, the external retaining walls around the garden have been renovated; a visitor and interpretation centre has been built, as have facilities for visitors. The paths, benches and all the furnishings have also been renovated. The sculptures in the garden have also been cleaned and treated, and the pool, which will serve as a water feature, has also been reconstructed. The Regional Monuments Authority was consulted with regarding all the interventions.

The capital city was able to carry out such an extensive renovation of the Koch Garden thanks to financial support from the Interreg Slovakia-Austria cooperation programme. Gratitude for cooperation also go to the VUB Bank Foundation, which made a significant financial contribution to the implementation of this project.

Says Jozef Kausich, CEO of VUB Bank:

“We have long supported places that have a strong story and value – from the iconic Calvary in Banská Štiavnica to the Koch Garden in the heart of Bratislava. They are all united by their genius loci – the spirit of the place that attracts visitors. The Koch Garden has been hidden for years; nevertheless, it has not lost its atmosphere or meaning. We’re glad that together with the municipality we can bring this place back to life and reopen it to people."

Added Alexandra Strickner, project partner Global 2000:

“In cities in particular, in view of global warming, vibrant and diverse green spaces are more important than ever for people. They are places of rest, for meeting and places where we can feel and experience our connection with nature. As an environmental protection organisation, we are pleased that we were able, as the lead partner, to contribute to the Koch Garden blooming again within the framework of the Interreg programme ‘Cities.Gardens.Diversity – Bratislava and Vienna go green together’ – for the people of Bratislava, as well as for nature and biodiversity in this beautiful city."

The Koch Garden was established in the early 1930s on the site of the original vineyard and was part of a private surgical and orthopaedic facility founded by Doctor Karol Koch.

The architectural project was developed by three prominent architects of the time: Dušan Jurkovič, Jindřich Merganc and Otmar Klimeš. The planting of greenery in the garden was designed and implemented by the well-known Czech botanist, gardener and creator of the Arboretum in Tesárske Mlyňany, Jozef Mišák, which is why the Koch Garden is also known as “Malé Mlyňany”.

The unique location of the garden on a slope and the construction of the sanatorium building itself, which protects the garden from northern winds, created microclimatic conditions suitable for growing various exotic and evergreen plants. On a relatively small and rugged area covering less than half a hectare, as many as 120 species and cultivars of trees were originally planted, 30 of which were coniferous and 26 were deciduous evergreen foreign trees, which were complemented by works of art, a sun bath or walkways.

The aim of the capital city today is to continue the historical value of this exceptional space, to preserve its unique character and to create a high-quality green public space for the people of Bratislava.

The Koch Garden Restoration Project arose a result of previous cooperation between some Slovak and Austrian partners. The capital city joined the project in April 2024 with the aim of revitalising the Koch Garden and gaining know-how in the field of biodiversity-friendly green space management.

Project name: Mestá.Záhrady.Rozmanitost’ / Städte.Gärten.Vielfalt (Cities.Gardens.Diversity)

Programme name: Interreg V-A SK-AT

The project “Mestá.Záhrady.Rozmanitost’ / Städte.Gärten.Vielfalt” is implemented within the framework of the Interreg V-A SK-AT programme and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme.