ENGLISCHER GARTEN

The English Garden in Munich is the green lung of the Bavarian capital and is certainly the most pleasant place to be in summer. Even larger than New York's legendary Central Park, the garden stretches for more than 6 km along the Isar River and covers a total of 375 hectares. Large lawns welcome families and groups of friends who come to enjoy the sunshine, and a few curiosities make the walk more enjoyable.

Japanese tea house: In April 1972, to celebrate the Summer Olympics in Munich, a Japanese tea house and a Japanese garden were created on a small island at the southern end of the English Garden.

The bridge at Prinzregentenstraße is a haven for... surfers! (and the curious who come to watch them). In summer and winter alike, thrill-seekers come to enjoy the waves of the canal to train before hopefully setting off for greater challenges at sea.

The large lawns are a real paradise in summer. Some take a dip in the canals, others play ball while others sunbathe... completely naked! Yes, because of the German naturism culture, it is perfectly allowed to undress in some parts of the park.

The Monopteros, perched on top of its hill: this small (16 m high) round Greek-style temple was designed by Leo von Klenze. The hill and the temple were completed in 1836. Ten Ionic columns support a shallow copper-covered dome. A special feature of the Monopteros is the use of polychrome stone painting, an interest of Klenze at the time, who wanted the building to serve as a model for its use. From here, a nice view of Munich

The Chinesischer Turm. After Japan and Greece, we now head for China and its high tower. With its five storeys and 19 metres, it blends in with the trees in the garden. The tower, as you can see it today, was built in 1952, based on photos of the one that stood there from 1789 to 1944 before it was completely destroyed by Allied bombing.

Biergarten. No need to wait for the Oktoberfest to discover the Bavarian atmosphere. The tables of this huge biergarten are arranged in the shadow of the Chinesischer Turm. You can order your beer from one of the stalls scattered around the area. To accompany it all, you can nibble on sausages and giant pretzels!

Kleinhesseloher See, a large artificial lake in the middle of the park. If you want to enjoy the peace and quiet a little more, you can rent a pedal boat or a small boat.