European garden culture in the Hanover Herrenhausen Gardens
A walk through the palace parks of Hanover
The Herrenhausen Gardens in Hanover are one of the most important baroque gardens among the palace parks in Europe. The centre of the famous gardens is the Great Garden, which covers an area of almost 50 hectares. In addition to the artistically designed garden area, the sculptures are particularly impressive. The water art, such as the 70 metre high fountain, is also fascinating. The Georgengarden, modelled on an English landscape park, and the Welfengarten with the beautiful Monbrillant Palace, home to the University of Hanover, are also well worth a visit.
You can experience the special features of the picturesque baroque garden, including the grotto by Niki de Saint Phalle, on a two-hour guided tour. In the Berggarten Hannover, you can admire over 12,000 different plant species and the largest orchid collection in Europe in bontanic show houses. The mausoleum of the Hanoverian royal family is also located in the centre of the Berggarten. A visitor magnet in the Herrenhausen Gardens is definitely the International Fireworks Competition, where spectacular fireworks can be seen every year on five dates between May and September. In summer, the Herrenhausen Gardens also provide a very special stage for the Herrenhausen Open-Air Theatre. Behind the historic façade of Herrenhausen Palace is now a modern conference centre and a museum.
Nature in the city: Karlsruhe Palace Gardens
A green oasis in the heart of the fan-shaped city
The famous Karlsruhe Palace is located very close to the central market square. An extensive palace park in the style of an English landscape garden was laid out behind the palace in 1967 on the occasion of the Federal Garden Show. Visitors can enjoy picnics or sports on the large lawns and numerous footpaths lead past monuments, fountains and the Karlsruhe Palace Garden Lake. A highlight for the whole family is the Karlsruhe Palace Garden Railway, which chugs comfortably through the entire garden on a small steam locomotive. Adjacent to Karlsruhe Palace Park is the Botanical Garden and, on the other side, the State Majolica Manufactory. From mid-August to mid-September, you can look forward to the Kalrsruhe Palace Festival. As every year, the façade of the baroque palace is impressively illuminated.
Meeting point at Odeonsplatz: Munich Hofgarten
Castle parks as oases of peace in the centre of the city's history
Munich’s Hofgarten is a beautiful Renaissance garden in the centre of the city. It was laid out in 1613 as part of the expansion of the Residenz with numerous fountains, fruit trees, round temples and mulberry walkways. Today, the Hofgarten is a little more minimalist and invites you to take a short break away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre with its many benches. The centrepiece of Munich’s Hofgarten is clearly the Temple of Diana. The pavilion is located in the centre of the garden, its eight entrance arches lead into the various cross and diagonal paths of the small park and the eye-catcher of the pavilion is the “Tellus Bavarica”, a copy of the bronze figure that can be found in the bronze collection of the Munich Residence.
In the idyllic flower park, you will also often come across musicians and dancers entertaining visitors with their art. The gravel paths are also a popular meeting place for boules players, who regularly organise small private tournaments here.
Berlin Lustgarten on the Museum Island
Pleasure and relaxation between historic walls
Not far from the landing stage of the popular Spree round trip, you will find a meeting place on Museum Island that is popular with Berliners and tourists alike – the Berlin Pleasure Garden. Located between Berlin Cathedral and the Altes Museum, the lawns surrounded by lime trees invite you to linger and relax, especially in spring. The eye-catcher is the 70-tonne red granite bowl in the middle of the square, which in the 19th century was considered a wonder of the Biedermeier era and is now affectionately known as the “Berlin Soup Bowl”.
The name Lustgarten goes back to the design of the garden. In 1646, a flower garden was laid out here near the city palace with an orangery, spice garden, grottoes and statues. After the Lustgarten was mainly used for marches and rallies during and after the Second World War, it was transformed after reunification. It was transformed into a green space.
Idyll on Lake Chiemsee: Herrenchiemsee Palace Park
Natural beauty and royal splendour united by the Bavarian sea
The Herrenchiemsee park is certainly one of the most popular excursion destinations in Germany. From the landing stage, you can take a boat to the 230-hectare island. In around two hours, you can hike through the idyllic nature park with its wooded areas and orchards, including beautiful viewing points.
An absolute must is a stop at Herrenchiemsee Castle with its beautiful castle park. Here you can either explore everything on your own or book one of the many themed tours, which are particularly recommended for families with children. The stately Herrenchiemsee gardens remind many visitors of Versailles. This similarity was also the intention of King Ludwig II when designing the palace park in Chiemsee. The geometrically laid out lawns and the elaborately planted carpet beds are particularly worth seeing in Herrenchiemsee Park. The gravel ornaments and the fountains with their water features are also fascinating.
UNESCO World Heritage Potsdam Park Sanssouci
A paradise in the heart of Potsdam
Who doesn’t know it? The world-famous Sanssouci Palace is known far and wide. The palace park is just as famous. Together they form Potsdam’s main attraction for visitors. Frederick the Great first had a terraced vineyard laid out and then built his palace in Potsdam. The park landscape of the Sanssouci pleasure garden impresses visitors. It offers a unique mixture of oaks, elms, plane trees, gingkos and sequoias. It is also home to numerous Rococo and Renaissance-style buildings and sculptures, and the impressive fountain in the centre of the garden is a popular photo motif in Sanssouci Palace Park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
Every year in August, the Potsdam Palace Night offers a very special ambience to experience the historic grounds. Visitors can experience various programme items framed by elaborate lighting. These include theatre, music and dance performances. Light and sound installations as well as special guided tours through this historic site are also part of the programme.
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