Großer Garten

Overview

The Großer Garten (Great Garden) is Dresden's largest and oldest park, covering 147 hectares of formal Baroque gardens, English-landscape parkland, lakes, and woodland. At its center stands the Sommerpalais, the earliest Baroque palace in Saxony.

Highlights

• Dresdner Parkeisenbahn: A miniature railway operated largely by children, running a 5.6 km loop through the park since 1950.
• Botanical Garden: Over 10,000 plant species across 3.25 hectares, managed by TU Dresden.
• Sommerpalais: The 1683 Baroque summer palace with seasonal art exhibitions.

History

Laid out in 1676 under Elector Johann Georg III as a formal garden outside the city walls. The Sommerpalais was built in 1680–83 by Johann Georg Starcke. The park was severely damaged in 1945 — over 100,000 trees were lost — and has been gradually replanted.

Visitor Tips

• Free entry to the park; small fee for the Parkeisenbahn and Botanical Garden.
• Ideal for cycling — wide flat paths connect all attractions.
• Duration: 1–2 hours.