A Joyful Cottage That Brightens the Castle Gardens: Discover Where to Find One!

Peacocks, however, did not have an easy life. They often ended up as dishes and were seen as elegant decorations at festive meals. Thanks to a detailed list of ingredients sent to the Fugger banking house, we know that in 1587, there were 350 peacocks served at the wedding feast of William of Rosenberg. Even back then, they were undoubtedly a luxury item, and quite costly – for comparison, there were more than five thousand geese, around 450 turkeys, and over two and a half thousand capons or hens at the same feast.

Peacocks in Bohemia’s Castles

It’s said that peacocks once wandered freely around Prague, and their cries became so annoying that a decree was enacted against them by Empress Maria Theresa. It can be assumed that back then, the noisy birds were served up as a punishment, but today they are no longer eaten. You can find them, for example, in Wallenstein Garden, a popular peaceful retreat amidst the beautiful baroque architecture of the Lesser Town, close to the Malostranská bus stop. Other permanent residents of the garden include fish in the pond and otters in a large aviary beside the artificial stalactite wall.

You can also find peacocks while exploring the gardens around Jezeří Castle and Veltrusy Castle. Along with the graceful swans, they enhance the special ambiance in the garden surrounding Kratochvíle Castle. They reside at Zákupy Castle, in a park near the castle in Klášterec nad Ohří, and in the grounds around Konopiště Castle. For over twenty years, they have been emblematic of the castle in Pardubice, which is home to the East Bohemian Museum. The blue and white peacocks can be spotted in the courtyard and while walking along the castle walls, often resting together in the branches of an ancient lime tree right within the courtyard. You can also encounter peacocks at Orlík nad Vltavou Castle, where an aquarium showcases the various inhabitants of Czech rivers.

A fun fact is that the peacocks at Děčín Castle have become a popular attraction not only in the gardens but throughout the whole town. While it’s typical for peacocks to only walk or fly short distances when frightened (and they’ll generally fly no more than one or two hundred meters), those in Děčín frequently go on adventurous trips several kilometers away and the city police have to return them to the castle from various local spots. The peacocks at Třeboň Castle are also known for their excursions into town. In Libochovice, the local unwritten traffic rules state that peacocks have the ultimate right of way , and drivers mustn’t honk at them unnecessarily while they confidently cross the road outside of designated crosswalks.

Peacocks in Moravian Castles

Peacocks are an unmistakable (and uncommon) inhabitant of the gardens around Buchlovice Castle. It’s a great spot for a game of “spot the peacock” or, if you’re visiting with friends or kids, a contest to see who can find the most peacocks. During the bright daylight hours, they usually seek shade under the trees, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings from the cover, and oftentimes they stay silent, making the hunt for the best-hidden ones even more entertaining. Peacocks are similarly elusive in the Milotice Castle garden and in the Under the Castle Garden in Kroměříž, and have settled comfortably in the garden of the castle in Bohemia pod Kosířem. The peacock pair residing there came from the zoo in Olomouc and were named Pepi and Jetty by the castle guides. Pepi was said to be a nickname for the painter Josef Mánes, who taught the Silva-Tarouca family’s children how to paint. He was sometimes affectionately referred to as Pepi at the chateau due to his quirky ideas. Jetty was the nickname of Jindřiška Skrbenská of Hříště, who was rumored to be Mánes’ mistress and also spent time at the castle.

Ten Fascinating Facts About Peacocks

• • Peacocks may look regal with their crowns, but breeders agree that they are simple and easygoing when it comes to their living conditions and diet. They just need understanding neighbors; while their appearance is stunning, their calls can be quite loud.

• • A peacock is a bird that enjoys living in groups, so ideally, it’s best to keep one male with several females.

• • The long fancy tail of peacocks isn’t actually a true tail but extended upper feathers. These can reach lengths of 1.5 to 2 meters, and each feather features a “peacock’s eye” at the end.

• • For the Samcans, the first feathers appear at 2-3 years of age, which corresponds to the age when the bird reaches sexual maturity.

• • The older the male, the more eyes he has on his feathers; some may have as many as 200. These feathers are renewed each year – as soon as one falls out, the new one begins to grow.

• • Peacocks typically live for around 16 to 20 years.

• • They aren’t your usual pets but they adapt quickly and can be hand-fed, for example.

• • They are not picky when it comes to food and can forage over large areas, consuming plants, insects, seeds, fruits, and small mammals.

• • Peacocks are excellent at defending their territory and will loudly announce the presence of unwelcome visitors.

• • In Argentina, it is said that roast peacock is still served as part of the Christmas Eve dinner.