The Englischer Garten was once the hunting grounds of the kings and the training grounds of the Bavarian Army. It was donated to the people in the 1700's and took over 20 years to landscape.

Over 5 kilometers long and 2-3 kilometers wide right in the center of Munich. The great park with diversity has a few oddities. And on a nice day in the summer more than 250,000 people enjoy the varied activities in the English Garden.

Water shoots from a culvert under a bridge and cascades through the gardens. Sometimes slow and inviting but then it can go into a series of rapids. In the channel they have a mild form of water skiing. A bungee cord is tied to a tree near the head of the rapids of the Eisbach. A wide board and rope handle are attached and the rider kneels on the board and leans back into the current. This forces the board into the current and stretches the cord to its full extent.                               The rider than stands and tips the board to the horizontal plane and the board skims over the water propelled by the stretched cord. It looked quite challenging. With a good run of several hundred feet, a skier could attain quite a rate over the water.

The university is on one side of the park and draws the younger crowd into the park for skateboarding, biking, etc. The park has 3 large beer gardens accessible by foot, car, or bike (Seegarten, Osterwaldgarten, and Chinesischer Turm). Paddle boats in the manmade lake Kleinhesseloher. Horse trails. Shade. Sunny meadows. And a feeling that the place always has room for more to come and enjoy.

The paths are paved, packed gravel, and a few dirt horse trails. Always wandering past something new...... it may be a lake, a meadow beautiful for sunbathing, a scenic overlook and picnic area, or a waterfall. Bicycles are plentiful and tours of the garden via bike are common. It is not unusual to see 40-50 in a group moving from area to area; cameras and excited speech in a myriad of languages.

Japanese Tea House and Garden entrance into the park paths.     

Sun Worshipers abound throughout the gardens. The Monopteros provides the high point for a Munich vista          

Surfing in the English Gardens, Munich Germany

Munich downtown is a short walk away. Even faster via bike tour. From the pathways you can make out the features of the buildings in central Munich not far in the distance.

Secluded enough for even a naturist to take a dip. Serene shade and paths stretch along the river.

The bier gardens draw those on bikes and walking. Right in the center of the gardens you find a huge and wonderful bier garden right on the water's edge.