Koch Garden, sometimes known as Malé Mlyňany, is one of the few historic gardens in Slovakia that has been preserved in its nearly original form. It is a garden associated with numerous stories in which well-known and significant historical figures play leading roles. Despite its unique cultural, natural, historical, artistic, urban, and other values, its condition has gradually deteriorated since 2007, when the last gardener worked there regularly.
The goal of the Národný Trust, n.o. is to preserve Koch Garden as a unique cultural and natural heritage site for future generations. Since 2007, we have been working toward its sensitive restoration, protection, and meaningful use in accordance with the historical and natural values of this exceptional place.
Our goal is to carry on the legacy of its founder, Karel Koch, who, as early as the interwar period, advocated for the importance of a high-quality environment, nature, and harmony for both physical and mental health.
We want to develop Koch Garden as an open space for:
• educational and community activities,
• guided tours with expert commentary,
• volunteer programs,
• cultural and interpretive events,
• activities that promote physical and mental well-being,
• fostering the public’s connection to cultural heritage and historic gardens.
At the same time, our goal is to connect Koch Garden with the global context of cultural and natural heritage preservation and to integrate it into international networks of significant historical sites and interpretive locations as part of Národný Trusts’ INTO Places program.
We collaborate with experts, volunteers, partners, and the public on the restoration and opening of the garden to the public, because we believe that cultural heritage is meaningful only when it remains a living part of society.
Since 2007, Národný Trust has regularly included Koch Garden in the Open Parks and Gardens Weekend event http://www.vopz.sk. In the garden, we organize guided tours in collaboration with our volunteer docents.
Given that the garden had long lacked regular, systematic maintenance, we have organized numerous volunteer work parties here since 2008.
In 2022, ownership of Koch Garden was transferred to the City of Bratislava, with which we were able to comprehensively restore the garden and open it to the public in May 2026. Our collaboration with the city is outlined in the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Restoration and Presentation of Koch Garden.
Koch Garden is a National Cultural Monument with a very rich and interesting history.
As early as the beginning of the 20th century, there were vineyards and orchards in the Wölfern area. After the end of World War I and the establishment of Czechoslovakia, single-family homes began to be built here during the 1920s. Their residents included civil servants, doctors, judges, university professors, as well as architects and builders. Many of them came from Bohemia to help develop Slovakia and its institutions, which is why many streets are named after Czech figures, such as Čelakovského Street, Smetanova Street, and others.
SANATORIUM
One of the buildings constructed here at the turn of the 1920s and 1930s was the Koch Sanatorium. The driving force behind the construction of this private sanatorium, which was very modern for its time, was Karel Koch – a physician and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University. He commissioned architect Dušan Jurkovič to design the sanatorium, and Jurkovič brought in additional architects: Jindřich Merganc and Otmar Klimeš—to collaborate on the project. Jozef Berný served as the builder of the complex. The functionalist-style sanatorium was complemented even then by a half-hectare garden, designed by Jozef Mišák—a renowned gardener from the arboretum in Tesárske Mlyňany. For this reason, Koch’s garden is sometimes referred to as “Malé Mlyňany.”
The four-story, V-shaped sanatorium building is in the Functionalist style, and its appearance blends seamlessly with the surrounding residential neighborhood. Its defining feature is a simple facade made of reddish-brown bricks from the Trnava brickworks, which had belonged to the Jurkovič family since 1913. Jurkovič served as the project supervisor and was responsible for the overall design; the individual parts of the sanatorium complex were designed by architects Jindřich Merganc and Otmar Klimeš, who were a generation younger and contemporaries of Dr. Koch, whom Jurkovič had known from his time as the government commissioner for the protection of historical monuments in Slovakia (1919–1922). The result of their efforts—and the collaboration between architects of different generations and styles—was the construction in 1932 of a modern and luxurious sanatorium, stunning in its grandeur and purpose, which bore Koch’s name.
The women’s sanatorium that stood here had four floors, 36 beds, operating rooms, and doctors’ offices. The double rooms were very well-furnished for the time, bright, and spacious.
During World War II, the sanatorium was occupied by the Germans. Karel Koch restored the war-damaged sanatorium, but in 1948 it was nationalized and served as a maternity hospital for the Bratislava countryside district until 2011. Since 2011, the sanatorium has been privately owned and operates as a private sanatorium.
GARDEN
Karel Koch was not only a physician who wrote scientific texts and promoted his profession, but he also authored philosophical treatises. He sought to heal not only the body (at the sanatorium) but also the soul, which is why a half-hectare garden was created next to the sanatorium. It is located at the intersection of Partizánska Street, Bartoňova Street, and Staroturský Path. Jozef Mišák, a well-known gardener from the Mlynany Arboretum who hailed from Hořice in the Krkonoše Mountains, had been working in Slovakia for more than thirty years. He designed the garden next to the sanatorium as an evergreen dendrological garden, in which approximately 120 species of trees and shrubs from around the world (Southeast Asia, North America, the Balkans) were planted. The garden’s location created a favorable microclimate for the planted species. The garden featured paths, a water system, benches, and sculptural decorations—including the statues “Mother with Child” and “Lovers.” Also beautiful were the stone vases, stone table, birdbath, pool, relaxation area, and herb beds. Next to the sanatorium building stood a so-called nymphaeum—a fountain. The garden and the sanatorium building formed a single complex.
Many rare shrubs and trees grew in the garden. Among them were evergreen shrubs such as holly-leaved mahonia, Julia’s dragon tree, crinkled-leaved viburnum, evergreen boxwood, medicinal laurel, and rhododendrons. Other shrubs found here included wreath jasmine, round-leaved mistletoe, golden privet, Florida callicanthus, Keri-like rose, Japanese spindle, and hairy sumac. Perennials and grasses included fat-leaved bergenia, large-leaved hydrangea, and giant reed. Of course, there were also trees—conifers (spruce, yew, pine, yew-like trees, and cypress) and deciduous trees (oak, beech, plane tree, birch, linden, quince, fig, magnolia, lemon tree, Judas tree, sophora, and gleditsia).
The garden has been revitalized several times over the decades. The last major renovation took place in 2004. However, since 2007, it has lacked systematic maintenance. That is why, starting in 2007, we began organizing regular volunteer work parties to prevent the garden from becoming overgrown and falling into complete disrepair. At the same time, starting in 2007, we began regularly showcasing Koch’s Garden to the public as part of the Open Parks and Gardens Weekend to ensure the garden would not be forgotten. Our goal since 2007 has been to find a new owner for the garden who would care about its fate. We approached several institutions, including the City of Bratislava. The political courage to address the situation at Koch’s Garden was not found until the tenure of the current mayor of the City of Bratislava, Mr. Matúš Vallo. Národný Trust offered the new owner – the City of Bratislava, which assumed ownership in 2022 – assistance and cooperation in the restoration, maintenance, and presentation of the garden. The cooperation between Národný Trust and the City of Bratislava is defined in the aforementioned Memorandum of Cooperation.
Texts: Jozef Halla, Michaela Kubíková
The initial impetus to save Koch Garden came from the efforts of experts and volunteers from our organization, Národný Trust, who, since 2007, had been drawing attention to the garden’s deteriorating condition and its exceptional historical value. Gradually, we succeeded in raising public interest in this unique site and sparking a discussion about its future.
The year 2021 was a pivotal one, as the City of Bratislava assumed management of the Koch Garden. This was followed by restoration work—cleaning the grounds, removing self-sown vegetation, pruning trees for safety, and stabilizing damaged parts of the garden.
A comprehensive restoration of the garden began as part of the SK AU INTERREG program under the project “Cities.Gardens.Diversity: Bratislava and Vienna Going Green Together.” Historic walkways, retaining walls, water features, and various architectural details were gradually restored. The project also included the restoration of greenery that respects the garden’s original character from the interwar period of functionalism.
However, the goal of the restoration was not merely to preserve the historic space, but to breathe new life into it. Koch’s Garden is gradually becoming a place for gatherings, education, cultural and community activities, as well as a space that promotes physical and mental well-being – in the spirit of the legacy of its founder, Karol Koch.
Today, the restoration continues with the goal of transforming Koch Garden into an open interpretive space that integrates the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, environmental education, and community life. The project also aims to position the garden within the international context of significant historical sites.
A Brief Chronology of the Restoration of Koch Garden:
2007–2015: Drawing Attention to the Garden’s Decay
Koch’s Garden had been closed to the public for many years and, without systematic maintenance, gradually fell into disrepair. Experts, activists, and the public drew attention to the neglected state of this unique functionalist garden, which is part of a national cultural monument. It began to appear in the media as a symbol of Bratislava’s endangered cultural heritage.
2008–2022: Public Engagement and Volunteer Activities
Národný Trust, along with volunteers and experts, began organizing work parties, guided tours, and educational activities. The goal was to highlight the garden’s historical and social value and lay the groundwork for its preservation.
During this period, there was increasing discussion about the need to open the garden to the public and preserve it as a unique place for relaxation, education, and connection with nature.
2021: The City of Bratislava Acquires Koch Garden
The City of Bratislava took over the management of Koch’s Garden from the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and declared its intention to restore it and open it to the public.
2022–2023: Start of more extensive renovations and cleanup of the grounds
A comprehensive cleanup of the grounds began:
• removal of self-sown vegetation,
• safety pruning of trees,
• waste removal,
• basic stabilization of damaged elements,
• repairs to walkways and stairways.
The site was prepared for systematic restoration.
2024–2025: Comprehensive restoration of the garden
The city, in collaboration with Národný Trust and other partners, launched a comprehensive restoration of the historic garden in cooperation with experts in historic preservation, landscape architecture, and greenery. The restoration included:
• reconstruction of historic walkways,
• restoration of retaining walls,
• restoration of sculptures and architectural elements,
• revitalization of greenery,
• restoration of water features,
• creation of visitor and interpretive facilities.
Koch Garden is the perfect place for walks, relaxation, and observing nature in the city.
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
When visiting, please observe the following visitor guidelines: Visitor_Guidelines_Koch Garden
Since May 2026, Národný Trust has been operating an interpretation and visitor center within the Koch Garden in cooperation with the garden’s owner, the City of Bratislava. We offer guided tours and various workshops for visitors to the garden. We will publish the current schedule of events on an ongoing basis. For more information, please contact us at z.sabolcikova@nt.sk
Opening hours of the interpretation and visitor center:
June, July, August, September 2026
Tuesday: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Entrance to Koch’s Garden
You can enter and exit Koch’s Garden via Bartoňova ulica street. Entry from Partizánska ulica street is not possible.
How to Get to the Garden by Public Transportation
The nearest public transportation stop is Radvanská, where trolleybus No. 44 stops. From the stop, it takes about 5 minutes to reach Koch Garden.
From the Radvanská stop, continue along Staroturský chodník. Go down the stairs toward Bartoňova ulicia street and turn right. After about 100 meters, you’ll find a green gate – the entrance to Koch Garden.
Entrance to Koch Garden
You can enter and exit Koch Garden via Bartoňova Street. Entry from Partizánska Street is not possible.
How to Get to the Garden by Public Transportation
The nearest public transportation stop is Radvanská, where trolleybus No. 44 stops. From the stop, it takes about 5 minutes to reach Koch Garden.
From the Radvanská stop, continue along Staroturský chodník. Go down the stairs toward Bartoňova ulica street and turn right. After about 100 meters, you will find a green gate – the entrance to Koch Garden.
If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact us:
Mgr. Michaela Kubíková – Director of the Národný Trust n. o.
kubikova@nt.sk
Mgr. Zuzana Sabolčíková – Expert Guide at Koch Garden