English Garden: City Park in Munich, Germany

In the heart of Germany’s third largest city lies the Englischer Garten, one of the bigger inner city parks in the world spanning over 375 hectares (926 acres). The Munich staple is even larger than NYC’s Central Park.

Open all-year-round and to be enjoyed in very type of weather, the park stretches along the western bank of the Isar river. The idea to create the park began in 1789 when a German nobleman Carl Theodor commissioned the work from Sir Benjamin Thompson and a landscape gardener Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell. Originally planned as a recreational area for soldiers, the garden later became open in 1792 to the general public.

The name of the park also evolved over the years. At first, it was called “Theodors Park,” based on the nobleman; later it became the “Volkspark” (‘people’s park’ in German). However, the still-current name, English Garden, quickly gained popularity a few years after the park’s opening. The name comes from the fact that the park is designed in the style of English landscape gardens, featuring lakes, sweeps of lawns and a picturesque architecture – all to impose an idyllic feeling. This is in stark contrast to meticulously designed French Baroque gardens that are also very geometric in their blueprints.

The park kept expanding throughout the last two hundred years, and in the early 19th century a Greek-style temple, called the Monopteros, was constructed. From here, one can enjoy picturesque views of the Bavarian capital, as it was built on a small hill overlooking the park and beyond.

The garden truly serves its recreational purpose. One can ride a bike, run or walk nearly 80 km (50 miles) of trails; practice yoga on the beautiful meadows, have a picnic, or simply sunbathe on one of the benches.

The park is divided into two major southern and northern parts. In the northern part you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday city life, while the southern part is a focal point of city life with music and events of all kinds.

On the border between the two parts lies the Kleinhesseloher See lake. Here one can rent a water bike or enjoy the views over the water while savouring on the menu from Seehaus im Englischen Garten restaurant.

Speaking of food, one of the highlights of the park is the beer garden next to the Chinese Tower (Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm). Serving local delicacies, it also has the capacity to seat over 7,000 people. Fun fact: Munich also has Königlicher Hirschgarten, another beer garden, which is rumoured to be the world’s largest with over 8,000 seats.

English Garden becomes alluring in winter too. Taking romantic walks on the snow-covered paths or visiting the annual Christmas market is a fantastic way to enjoy Munich in winter time.

There is always something going on in the park for all age groups. Most of all, however, Englischer Garten is a place that helps maintain and expand nature inside the city.

It is one of the world’s many examples of inner urban parks that reconnect residents and visitors to nature in a balanced and desirable way, leading to a better and calmer life.