One of the lesser known parks in Munich, Bavariapark was created between 1825 and 1831 and is located in the Westend (Schwanthalerhöhe) District just outside of the city center.
As one of the smallest, yet most densely populated districts of Munich, the Westend district welcomes the green space that Bavariapark provides, with the park being a very popular leisure destination in this part of the city.
Due to the fact that the park was laid with Oak Trees in honour of the newly crowned Queen of Bavaria, Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the park was originally known as “Theresienhain” (Thereses’ grove).
However, after the construction and public unveiling of the Bavaria Statue in 1850, King Ludwig had the park renamed Bavariapark. And so it has been ever since.
About Bavariapark
The large central field of Bavariapark is a popular place for sunbathers, recreational footballers, joggers, frisbee enthusiasts and picnickers.
Once only the private park of King Ludwig I, and reserved only for use by himself and his closest consorts, Bavariapark was fully opened to the public in 1872.
At almost 7 hectares in size (17 acres) includes a number of winding paths, a playground, a beer garden and a number of seated areas in the open and some providing some seclusion.
There are a number of interesting statues throughout the park and its proximity to the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum (Transport Museum) makes the entire area attractive to both locals and tourists alike.
Bavariapark: Points of Interest
The statues that are strategically placed throughout the park are mostly of classic sandstone and bronze, and are beton style sculptures that appear to symbolise vanity and fantasy.
- “Beauty” – Virgin seated upon a Unicorn
Reiterstatue “Schönheit“ (Jungfrau auf Einhorn), by von Hermann Hahn
- “Fantasy” – Man on a rising horse
Reiterstatue „Phantasie“ (Reiterin auf steigendem Pferd), by von Carl Ebbinghaus
- “Strength” – Hercules on a bull
Reiterstatue „Kraft“ (Herkules auf Stier), by von Fritz Behn
- “Wealth” – Young man on a
- Reichtum (youth on manatee) by Bernhard Bleeker
- “Lying spring nymph”, by Heinrich Düll a . Georg Pezold
- “Resting Faun”, by Cipri Adolf Bermann
- Bronze Group “Wild Horses”, by Georg Roemer
- Bronzehirsch, by Theodor Georgii
- Female Herme with fountain basin, by Heinrich Düll a . Georg Pezold
Also within the park there is a small children’s playground – the Spielplatz im Bavariapark – and a wonderfully local (tourist free) beer garden – the Wirtshaus am Bavariapark
Where is Bavariapark Located in Munich?
Bavariapark is very easy to find and very easy to get to on public transport and by foot from central Munich.
The park is located in the Schwanthalerhöhe district at 80339 Munich, Bavaria, Germany and bordered by the streets of Oda-Schaefer-Weg, Hans-Dürrmeier-Weg, Theresienhöhe and Am Bavariapark
GETTING THERE BY TRAIN:
U4 or U5 Underground lines service underground (U-Bahn) station Schwanthalerhöhe which is only about 100 meters away north of the park. After exiting the underground, walk directly south down Hans-Dürrmeier-Weg and you’ll see the park in just a minute or two of walking.
GETTING THERE BY BUS:
There are a number of bus stops nearby at Schwanthalerhöhe on Munich bus routes 153, 134, and 53.
GETTING THERE ON FOOT:
Use Google Maps or equivalent. The walk to Bavariapark will take you around 40 minutes from the center of the city but luckily, there is much to see and do on the route out here.
The best transport option for the city can be discovered by reading our Getting Around Munich article and there is no doubt you’ll find our Maps of Munich article helpful in this instance also.
Bavariapark – Part of the Munich’s Green Center
This is a quiet park, hardly frequented by tourists and popular with locals and families. It might not have the appeal of the English Gardens, Hofgarten Munich or the Botanical Gardens but certainly, in this area, it’s an escape from urban Munich and a breath of fresh air for the inner west of the city.
Just minutes from the park you could explore the Bavaria Statue Munich and the Ruhmeshalle Munich on Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest Grounds of Munich) and just adjacent to the park you can view the crazy Endless Staircase of Munich
Right on the park itself is the wonderful branch of the Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum (the transport branch) with the feel good sculpture Große Schnecke – Sweet Brown Snail, surveying the front of the museum.
All in all there’s much to do in and around the park and you could easily spend an afternoon in this area.
We hope you enjoyed learning more about Bavariapark and we look forward to running into you someday on the streets of Munich.
Cheers Everyone.
The main image of this blog post on Bavariapark is via Creative Commons artists Rufus46, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
