Erlangen: Palace Garden and Aromatic Garden

Garden design between history and nature

The history of the Palace Garden can be explored both in broad terms and in detail. Its designation as one of the earliest Baroque gardens in Franconia sets the historical context; the eastern section was transformed into an English landscape garden between 1786 and 1826. The Huguenot Fountain in the Palace Garden provides a specific point of reference: Elias Räntz designed it in 1706. This brings the history of an entire garden and a single, dated work into focus side by side. For those interested in culture, this offers a shift between the broader picture and the details—from the garden’s place in Franconian garden design to the fountain’s design.

The Aromatic Garden offers a different focus from the historically oriented Palace Garden: it is a place for experiencing nature, education, research and recreation. If your holiday plans are more focused on nature and learning, you can set this emphasis alongside garden and cultural history. The two places offer different themes around which to plan your time in Erlangen.

A city walk with a stroller

The city walk through Erlangen is suitable for strollers, providing a practical point of reference when planning your day around this type of mobility.

In the wider Erlangen-Höchstadt destination

In the wider Erlangen-Höchstadt destination, a three-kilometre circular trail runs through the Kalchreuth cherry orchards. Information boards cover cherries, the surrounding landscape and Kalchreuth; interactive stations explore nature-related themes. Erlangen-Höchstadt has a well-developed network of cycling and hiking trails, allowing those seeking local recreation to explore the landscape from the Aischgrund to the Erlanger Oberland.

The Spix Museum in Höchstadt is also part of the wider Erlangen-Höchstadt destination. It is located in the birthplace of the naturalist Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix; interactive exhibits introduce visitors to his life and the history of the house where he was born. A computer-controlled, light-activated rainforest diorama featuring animal figures and animal sounds is especially recommended for children. This places biography and the history of the house alongside a nature theme explicitly aimed at children.

In Höchstadt a.d.Aisch, Aischgrund mirror carp from the surrounding pond landscapes are among the regional specialities of the wider Erlangen-Höchstadt destination. The fish is prepared in various ways and has protected geographical indication status. Its season runs from September to April. This seasonal window may be useful for your holiday planning if regional cuisine is a priority.

Holiday apartment and travel planning

When looking for a holiday apartment in Erlangen, deciding what you want to focus on is a useful first step: should Erlangen’s garden and cultural history be the main feature of your stay, or would you also like to include themes from the wider Erlangen-Höchstadt destination in your plans? This will help you decide whether to focus on Erlangen itself or deliberately extend your travel plans to the wider Erlangen-Höchstadt destination.

Discover more destinations: Tennenlohe, Hemhofen, Wachenroth, Bubenreuth, Eckental, Marloffstein, Uttenreuth, Höchstadt an der Aisch

View the wider travel overview: Erlangen-Höchstadt.