Siedl Park, Murnau

This rather rustic park is an area of natural beauty with several historical elements dotted through it that you happen to discover as you make your way along the gravel paths. There is a beautiful wooded area with tall leafy trees and meadow like embankments with grass. The park is named after Emmanuel von Seidl (1856-1919) who was an architect involved in the design and beautification of several areas in Murnau including the pedestrian zone in the old town centre.

Map of Park with photos of Emanuel von Siedl's country villa (destroyed 1972)

Linderhof Palace, Linderhof (Near Ettal)

You are not allowed to take pictures inside the palace, but it is something to behold: extravagance and opulence I have not seen before. The mad King Ludwig II certainly knew how to live in luxury.

The gardens are lovely to walk through and consist of gravel pathways with large beautiful trees and a few dams. I enjoyed the wild flowers. The gardens are the setting for the King’s numerous ‘pavilions’ that he placed in this picturesque alpine valley.

A highlight of the garden was the Neptune water feature at the back of the palace showing a dramatic and mighty herd of horses galloping with jets of water spraying from their nostrils.

See http://www.schlosslinderhof.de/englisch/park/history.htm for more information.

You can walk for quite a few kilometers in this park, through meadows and forests

English Gardens, Munich

This extensive green lung in the centre of Munich is an extremely popular spot for locals and tourists alike on a hot summer’s day. We were amazed at the thousands of people sunbathing and swimming in the water and it really felt more like a beach resort than a public park with everyone walking around in their costumes. This experience was a real highlight - especially watching so many people jump into the river and float away with heads bobbing :)