
The Chinese Tower, Englischer Garten, Munich, http://www.wikipedia.org
Englischer Garten is probably the most well-known large municipal park in Munich, and perhaps the city’s most visited. Its landscape, features and pleasant gardens offer both respite from the city to relax or space to play (or “spielen” in German).
Along one of its ponds, the park’s beautiful outdoor beer garden is one of the most popular places for families and friends to gather in the city. Shown in the picture is the beer garden and the Chinese Tower, a 25-meter high wooden structure that was first constructed in 1790. (On July 13 1944, the original tower burned down after heavy bombing; but it a new tower, identical to the original was constructed 1952.) The tower and beer garden are a wonderful example of using public food and beverage amenities within a park, and an example of this European tradition that is less common in the United States.
Some more basics on the park: 914 acres/370 hectares; created in 1789, originally planned as a “military garden” that was open to the public and created from former hunting grounds of the local rulers.
Features: Japanese garden and teahouse, the open “Schönfeld meadow,” the Monopteros temple, the Chinese Tower, a 25 metre high wooden structure, 8.75 km of streams, over 100 bridges and several lakes, monuments and gardens.
Wikipedia contains a more lengthy description of the park and its history.
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