Munich – At first glance, Munich’s city center looks stony. Until the 19th century, however, many inner courtyards were very green. “Even back then, Munich’s citizens were strongly committed to the urban green of the city,” writes Klaus Bäumler from the Munich Forum – in the foreword to the new brochure “Historical Green in Munich”.
The beginning of Munich was gray
The planning department developed the 175-page booklet. Bäumler explains: “Urban and historical green is part of the urban silverware that needs to be preserved.” The development of Munich herb gardens, avenues and parks can be read in this reference work.
The beginning of the city was very gray: in the Middle Ages, Munich’s streets and squares were devoid of green. A good example is the former Schrannenplatz, which is now called Marienplatz. From 1315 it had to remain free – also from green. The market square is a meeting place for grain traders, a place for public executions, a place for parties and tournaments. To this day, no tree has grown here. Jakobsplatz was also completely unfree at the time.
In the 16th century the city had 462 gardens
In later centuries the city became increasingly green: fruit trees and vegetables, rose bushes and hedges were cultivated in Munich’s courtyards and gardens behind the houses. In the 16th century, every second house in Kreuzviertel and Hackenviertel had a small garden at the back. According to the old land registers, Munich had 1,230 houses, 283 stables and no fewer than 462 gardens at the end of the 16th century, the brochure specifies.
Romantic gardens and pleasure palaces
Within the city walls, the green sprouts in the monastery gardens and in the lush herb gardens of the Josephspital and the Ducal Hospital. Some of their green spaces will be preserved until the 20th century. Many people in Munich know the romantic garden of the Radspielershaus in Hackenstrasse – with the playful dolphin fountain – today.
300 years ago there were pleasure palaces and garden centers in front of the city gates. After 1700 the later property of the La Rosée family stands out. In front of the Sendlinger Tor there is the little summer palace with a French pleasure garden, hedges and a fountain. The family’s castle is directly adjacent to large kitchen gardens. In 1869, an urban garden was built on the site of the summer palace.