Hofgarten, Munich

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Hofgarten (Court Garden) is the small symmetrical park behind the Residenz complex. It was built in 1617 by Maximilian I in renaissance style and has cross-shaped and diagonal paths.

I walked for some minutes there but I guess it will be a much more pleasant walk during warmer months. There was a lot of snow around and the few people around covered with heavy jackets were trying just to pass through.

We entered through a gate (pic 1) that was made by Klenze and walked toward the middle of the park where we saw a pavilion (pics 2-3) which is dedicated to goddess Diana. It was erected in 1615 in French style and at the top (pic 4) is a replica of the huge bronze sand-cast statue that was made in 19th century showing a powerful female figure that was named Bavaria, a symbol of Bavarian land (you can see the original one at Residenz museum)

At the other side of Hofgarten is the Bavarian State Chancellery that used to house the former Army Museum but I was freezing and decided to leave the park.

The garden faces Festsalbau (Banqueting Hall of Residenz) that was built in early 19th century by Leo von Klenze. It used to house the Egyptian Art museum but we didn’t visit it.

To the north the Hofgarten is bounded by an arcaded art gallery, originally the precursor of today's Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek. The gallery is now home to both an Art Gallery and the German Theatre Museum.

The creation of the Hofgarten, which originally lay outside the moat that surrounded the Residenz Palace, began in 1613 and was completed in 1617. At the same time, Duke Maximilian I was adding many new buildings to the palace complex.
The garden has a formally laid out around two central footpaths that intersect at the Temple of Diana at center of the garden.

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This formal Renaissance-style garden behind the Residenz was first laid out in 1613. The pavilion in the middle is a Temple for the goddess Diana, from the year 1615.

Second photo: There is a straight path leading out from each of the eight arches of the temple.

Third photo: Musicians often perform for small change inside the Diana Temple. This lady is playing an instrument called a bandura, which has sixty strings and is played mainly in the Ukraine.

Fourth photo: In one of the arcades on the north side of the garden there is a Theater Museum, which was unfortunately closed the last time I was there because they were setting up a new exhibit.

In our opinion, the Hofgarten is a real gem. Unlike lots of other city parks we've visited, this one is very good sized and right near the city center. This makes it a very popular destination for locals and tourists alike and an excellent place to get away from it all!

After collecting our lunch supplies at the Viktualienmarkt, we headed to the Hofgarten for a lovely picnic. We parked ourselves close enough to the Englischer Beer garden to hear the music, but far enough to pretend that the band was playing only for us.

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On the north side of the Residenz is the Italianate Court Garden (Hofgarten), part of the grounds of the Residenz and the playground of the Wittelsbachs. It is bounded on the north and west by arcades, on the east by the impressive State Treasury, and to the south by the Residenz itself. In the center is the Diana Temple, a seventh century twelve sided pavillion, with paths leading to it from all around.

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Beautifully located at the far northeastern corner of Odeonsplatz, the Hofgarten was formally a court garden of the Residenz. It is one of the many tranquil spots in this bustling city. I would ride my bike there in the morning and have the best Museli and fruit breakfast daily. It is also a great place to bring a sandwich and people watch. One evening I was fortunate enough to stumble across a chamber music ensemble with dancers twirling throughout the garden as if this was a normal midnight activity.

When we realized we wouldn't be able to sneak into the Residenz, we consoled ourselves with checking out the gardens outside. The temple in the center is very pretty, but some parts are in need of TLC. There are some very pretty corners of the garden, and it will lead you right over to the Finanzgarten (see Off the Beaten Path) where you can enjoy even more seclusion and hidden treasure.

For a quick rest after a busy time in the city center for sightseeing and/or shopping there's no better place than the Hofgarten. A relatively small garden accoriding to Italian gardening principles, with lots of benches to sit down amid flowers. In the pavillion in the middle of the garden there are often bands playing in summer time. You find fountains and arcades, and some museums on either side of the garden.

Check my tip on Cafe Tambosi which is close by.

The Hofgarten is one of the most important royal renaissance gardens north of the Alps.

In the north and the west the garden is surrounded by arcades with a total of 125 arches. In the middle of the Hofgarten there is a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana, an open pavilion with 12 sides built in 1615.

It is a truly wonderful green oasis in the middle of Munich. There is a café right there, which is a wonderful spot to sit and relax!