MUNICH'S ENGLISCHER GARTEN PARK
Gesundheit
and Culture in the Nude Day Sun
Since 1789 the Englischer Garten (English Garden) has been a central landmark of Munich cultural life, but actually owes its verdant existence to an American, Benjamin Thompson who established himself as a Bavarian Count von Rumsford and became Bavaria War Minister under the Wittelsbach Prince Karl Thoedore. Originally this marshland runoff area from the Isar River was intended to be a military grounds, but von Rumsford decided it should be a park for the people instead. American radical!
Architect Friedrich Ludvig von Sckell was engaged to design the park for public recreation and exercise and still well serves that purpose. The park also included an agricultural college. Von Sckell had designed the earlier English style park in Aschaffenburg (see Schonbusch Park) and the royal family of Munich wanted the same for their city. Called the Englischer Garten not because it has anything to do really with Great Britain, but that it follows the form of a non-formal country English garden rather that the formal layout of a royal grounds such as can be found at Munich’s former royal “Residence” (see Residence Treasures) nearby in the city's center (see Tour Walk From Marienplatz).Find best hotel deals in Munich
Covering
a long strip from the inner ring near Munich’s Art Museum
and forming the eastern border of the city’s very popular
Schwabing district near the University, the park is criss-crossed
by many paths
that lead to the Kleinhesselhoer Lake on its northern end. Strolling,
running, biking and nude sun-bathing! are popular activities in
the warm summer days. The middle of the 5 km long park is dominated
by
circular
Greek style Monopteros Temple standing on a hill over looking the
green grasses. Those interested in culture can visit the Japanese
Tea House
built in 1972 as a gift from Japan when the Olympics came to Munich,
or the historic Chinese Tower built in 1790 as part of the original
park which at Christmas hosts a very popular arts and crafts festival,
the
Weinachtsmarkt.
The lake is the beating heart of the park with boating rentals from
the sea house and ever popular feeding of the ducks and swans which
eagerly
swim alongside the lake view beer garden restaurant with nearby amphitheater
offering open air plays in summer. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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SEE ALSO:
HOTEL
ENGLISCHER GARTEN
DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP
BAROQUE
IN BAVARIA- ETTAL ABBEY BASILICA
ART
AND AUGUSTINER
MAD KING LUDVIG'S PLEASURE PALACE