Wish I took more pictures of this fantastic garden. I am ecstatic that my husband and I took the…read moretime to walk from our hotel to the English Garden. We brought sandwiches, snacks and water which made for a little picnic. The garden is enormous and beautifully maintained. Wish we had gardens such as this in the USA. I think this may even be bigger than the Central Park in NYC - most certainly safer! We went on a Monday but it was still full of people. From what it seems, it's a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Locals wade into the water and there are even some spots where they surf! I believe there's even a lifeguard in one of the areas. They don't just let anyone surf though and there are some warning signs about its dangers. Hubby and I were able to find a bench in the shade where we just enjoyed the scenery for a while. It was perfect for our jet lag recovery The park is also within walking distance from many other landmarks in Munich, such as The Residence, the Odeonsplatz, Mariensplatz, The Munich Cathedral, among many others.

This park is larger than Central Park and is arguably the largest park in Europe. We only spent a…read morefew hours with our bikes exploring, but we were thrilled with what we discovered around every turn. There's a beautiful river with plenty of waterfront space to relax and even a place to watch surfers practicing. There's a huge beer garden by the Chinese Tower, great for a break or people watching. There's lots of well maintained pathways for walking snd bikes. Munich residents are lucky to have this space!

So, where is this burg (castle) as in Burggarten (Castle Garden)? Unfortunately, the Stauferburg,…read moreImperial castle/fortress for the Holy Roman Emperor has been long lost. A legend goes it was lost by an earthquake. Stones were valuable materials and the city was eager to expand. It's probable that the Rothenburg residents dismantled the castle themselves. On your left as you walk into the Castle Garden, you'll see the only preserved building of the former Stauferburg, which is now a memorial site. An info panel in front of the Blasius Chapel explains the structure and function of the former castle grounds. Past the castle, you'll get to a private residence that was once the office of the city nursery in Rothenburg. In the middle of the English garden grounds, you'll see a small baroque styled garden with allegories of the four seasons. The Castle Garden features a historic collection of trees and extensive lawns, which invite visitors to linger to bask in a medieval atmosphere. A column and pogrom stone in the Castle Garden recall the past. The Staufer column on the north side of the Castle Garden reminds of the era when the emperor's castle was used for control over the imperial city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the Holy Roman Empire. Next to the chapel is a copy of the medieval pogrom stone. This memorializes the murder of the Jewish residents in Rothenburg, who died in the Middle Ages during the Rindtfleisch pogrom in 1298. Approaching Castle Garden via the Burgtor, you will have beautiful views of the Tauber Valley at the observation platforms to the left and right. It's a must visit when you are in Rothenburg.

The east of Rothenburg's old city, you can walk through the town wall into the medieval alleyways…read morevia the Galgentor (also called Würzburger Tor) or Rödertor. At the Rödertor is the Röderturm, which is open to visitors regularly. From here you get a wonderful view of the old quarter, from Markusturm with its stork's nest to - the also accessible - City Hall tower. The Röderturm is also a central starting point for Rothenburg's Tower Trail, which leads around the old quarter.