Munich is bursting with idyllic parks and green spaces that invite you to stroll and linger. Close to the Isar, not far from the Wittelsbacherbrücke bridge, there is a garden that is still considered an insider tip despite its central location. The grounds have existed since the beginning of the 20th century and offer plenty to discover.
The origins of the Bischweiler tree nursery
Probably only a few people have heard the official name of this green area, even though it is displayed right at the entrance. From 1841 to 1896, there was a tree nursery run by the city nursery on Kalkofeninsel on the Isar. However, when the Müller public baths were built, this had to make way. This is how the Bischweiler tree nursery was finally established near the Schyrenbad, Munich’s oldest open-air swimming pool. The name comes from the former Bischweilerstrasse, which led to the nursery and no longer exists today. Today, more than half of the grounds are open to the public. It is divided into a total of five themed gardens, an educational tree trail and an ecological project. You can take part in guided tours from time to time.
📍 Location: Sachsenstraße 2, 81543 Munich
🕐 Opening hours: daily, 07:00 to 21:00
💶 Price information: Free admission
The rose garden
The oldest part of the nursery is the rose garden, which was laid out and opened in 1901. It is the most popular of the themed gardens, but is still considered an insider tip. Over 8,500 roses from 200 rose varieties are planted here on an area of 4,500 square meters. They bloom particularly beautifully in June and July. So if you want to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Isar or the southern part of the English Garden is too crowded for you, then come to the rose garden. Here you can stroll among the flowers or sit down on one of the benches or metal chairs.
If you’re in the mood for further education, read the signs attached to the bushes as you stroll around. Here you will not only learn the names of the rose varieties, but also more about their differences and similarities. The small open-air stream also babbles through the grounds and next to it you will find the amphibian pool, where, if you’re lucky, you might actually see a few of the little animals.
The other themed gardens
In addition to the rose garden, the nursery also has other gardens. In the tactile garden, there are four raised beds with regional plants that you can feel. The signs are also labeled in Braille. The garden is therefore particularly worth a visit for people with visual impairments. The scented garden is also worth a visit, as it contains particularly fragrant plants such as jasmine, angel’s trumpet and citrus fruits.
You should not get too close to the plants in the poison garden, however, as some of them are highly toxic and can be fatal if eaten. Do not let your children play here unsupervised. Unfortunately, the lilac garden no longer exists. Historical lilac cultivars from France were grafted here by the nursery. The trees themselves have been replanted. There are even more trees on the educational tree trail, which was opened in 2010 and will surprise you with exotic trees as well as familiar ones.
Last but not least, you have the opportunity to cultivate your own small 2 square meter bed as part of the “Edible City” eco-project. You can grow flowers, herbs or vegetables here, but you don’t have to use artificial fertilizers or pesticides.