Englischer Garten

Overview

At 375 hectares, the English Garden is larger than New York's Central Park and one of the world's largest urban parks. Laid out in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford), it stretches from the city centre nearly 6 km north to the Studentenstadt.

Highlights

• Eisbach wave: A standing wave on a canal at the southern entrance where surfers ride year-round.
• Chinese Tower beer garden: Bavaria's second-largest beer garden, seating 7,000 under chestnut trees around a wooden pagoda.
• Monopteros: A Greek Revival temple atop a hill offering skyline views with the Alps behind.

History

Commissioned by Elector Karl Theodor in 1789, the park was one of the first public gardens in Europe. Thompson blended English landscape style with practical flood management of the Isar channels.

Visitor Tips

• Bike hire: Cycle from town to the northern Hirschau meadows in 25 minutes.
• Naturism: FKK (nude sunbathing) is common on Schönfeldwiese—just a heads-up.
• Duration: 1–3 hours.