Palmengarten

Botanical garden in the heart of Frankfurt
  1. Home
  2.  › 
  3. Germany
  4.  › 
  5. Frankfurt

The Palmengarten in Frankfurt is one of three botanical gardens in the city. It was opened in 1871 and has enjoyed great popularity among locals and tourists ever since.

Plants from all over the world

The Palm Garden covers an area of around 22 hectares, making it one of the largest of its kind in Germany. Visitors can marvel at plants from all over the world both in the greenhouses and in the spacious open areas. The garden is divided into thematic sections. These either have a particular plant species as their theme, such as the cactus or rhododendron garden, or they house plants from particular climatic zones, such as the steppe meadow. The tropical plants of the Palm Garden are housed in the so-called Tropicarium. This is a group of interconnected display houses, each with its own microclimate. The northern section is home to plants from rainforests and monsoon areas. In the southern section of the building, on the other hand, tropical plants that prefer a hot, dry climate feel at home.

The beginnings of the Palm Garden

A central figure in the history of the Palmengarten is the garden expert Heinrich Siesmayer. The café in the garden named after him, as well as the adjacent street of the same name, still show this today. Siesmayer was responsible for a Frankfurt association purchasing the first plant stock for the new botanical garden in 1868. Siesmayer was also entrusted with the design of the park according to French and English models and took over the management of the garden until 1886. His successors continuously developed the Palmengarten into a local recreation area. In the 1890s, for example, a permanent ice rink was built here, which was used as a tennis court in the summer.

From the Great Depression to the present day

At the beginning of the 20th century, the park's financial situation deteriorated significantly, which is why it was taken over by the city of Frankfurt in 1931. During the Second World War, the park was declared a restricted area and was not restored until 1954. Thanks to extensive renovation of the greenhouses and the construction of the new Gesellschaftshaus, the garden regained its former grandeur in the following decades. In addition to native and tropical plants, today it also houses a star restaurant and attracts 600,000 visitors a year with its varied events and well-tended grounds.

Family-friendly recreation area

The Palmengarten is not only popular with botanists: workshops for children of all ages, guided tours through the park and lectures offer exciting insights into the world of plants for everyone. The garden is also a popular local recreation area. Families with children particularly appreciate the two playgrounds and the boat hire service on the large pond. A special attraction for young guests in summer is the Palm Express - a small train that regularly runs through the park. Older visitors, on the other hand, like to enjoy nature on the lawn.

Festivals and events in the Palmengarten

In keeping with the park's motto "Plants. Life. Culture", cultural events and festivals are held regularly in the Palmengarten. One of the best known is the Rose and Light Festival, which takes place in summer and was first celebrated in 1931. In the winter months, on the other hand, the "Winter Lights" exhibition attracts visitors. Here they can marvel at light and sound installations spread throughout the park.