Explore Erlangen through its different garden perspectives: the Palace Gardens combine Baroque history with later landscape design, while the Aromatic Garden offers an experience of nature, education, research and relaxation. There is also a city walk suitable for strollers. Together, these themes give a trip to Erlangen a distinct cultural and green focus.
Palace Gardens: Baroque grounds and landscaped section
The Erlangen Palace Gardens are considered one of Franconia’s earliest Baroque garden complexes. Their history also includes a later transformation: between 1786 and 1826, the eastern section was converted into an English landscape garden. This means two different design approaches can be seen within the grounds—the Baroque garden complex and the landscape design later added in the east.
One specific historical detail is the Huguenot Fountain in the Palace Gardens. Elias Räntz designed it in 1706. Along with the development of the eastern section of the gardens, the fountain offers a glimpse into different aspects of Erlangen’s garden and city history: a named work with a year of creation and a designer on the one hand, and the changing form of a garden section over several decades on the other.
The Aromatic Garden and a city walk
The Aromatic Garden is a place for experiencing nature, education, research and relaxation. Its thematic focus therefore differs from the historic garden features of the Palace Gardens: here, nature and knowledge are as much at the heart of the experience as relaxation. Those choosing Erlangen for these interests will thus find, alongside its historic gardens, another way to explore nature-related themes.
There is also specific information to help you plan a walk: the city walk through Erlangen is suitable for strollers.
More cultural and nature-related themes in Erlangen-Höchstadt
The wider destination of Erlangen-Höchstadt offers additional independent excursions and cultural attractions. St. Andrew’s Church in Kalchreuth is home to a famous Passion altarpiece: a shrine altar with hinged wings, created by Albrecht Dürer’s teacher Michael Wolgemut. In Höchstadt, the Spix Museum in the birthplace of naturalist Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix uses interactive exhibits to tell the story of his life and the history of the house. The computer-controlled, light-controlled rainforest diorama, with animal displays and sounds, is particularly recommended for children.
The routes in the wider destination of Erlangen-Höchstadt also differ in length, terrain and theme. A three-kilometre circular route leads through the cherry orchards of Kalchreuth, with information boards about cherries, the landscape and Kalchreuth, as well as hands-on nature stations. Near Höchstadt, the Eisvogelweg is a marked, level circular route of about 2.6 kilometres through the Franconian pond country. The Seerosenweg is a mostly level walking trail of about 2.4 kilometres through the historic Gretelmark forest, passing forest ponds, water lilies and bulrushes, as well as habitats of the kingfisher. The information makes it easier to compare the routes by length and described landscape, without suggesting that they form one continuous walk.
Regional cuisine adds a seasonal element: in Höchstadt a.d.Aisch, Aischgründer mirror carp from the surrounding Himmelsteiche ponds and its various preparations are local specialities. The season runs from September to April, and the carp has Protected Geographical Indication status. Alongside gardens and cultural heritage, the wider destination of Erlangen-Höchstadt therefore offers nature trails and a clearly identified seasonal speciality.
Discover more destinations: Tennenlohe, Hemhofen, Marloffstein, Bubenreuth, Heroldsberg, Baiersdorf, Gremsdorf, Röttenbach.
Back to the main travel overview: Erlangen-Höchstadt.
