Grand allees and beautifully designed formal Baroque gardens are the fame of Herrenhausen, a historic palace garden located in the heart Hanover, Germany. Created for the kings and queens of Hanover, most of the gardens on the property were designed in 1666 by French landscape designer, Martin Charbonnier. The greatest of these is the formal central garden, or Großer Garten,  which is a labyrinth of colorful annual beds punctuated by beautiful statuary standing high on plinths.


The beautiful Großer Garten is the most colorful garden at Herrenhausen

Classic bedding annuals, like mealycup sage, scarlet sage, flowering tobacco and dusty miller fill the Großer Garten
Before World War II, the beautiful Herrenhausen castle overlooked the Großer Garten, but it was destroyed by British bombs in a 1943 air raid. This was against the wishes of the British Royal Family who requested the Castle be spared. Despite the bombing, pieces of the old castle still remain, including an intact orangery that contains a wide array of interesting tropicals and cacti.

If you visit, be prepared to walk (parents with small children should bring strollers!). It's a huge property with lots to see. Smaller, equally formal, side gardens can be found tucked away here and there. Some contain fragrant rose gardens, while others have water features surrounded by ornately trimmed boxwood. These are a joy to discover and sit in. Grander water features are also plentiful. The most spectacular is the Great Fountain, which shoots an 80 meter ( 260 foot) column of water into the air.


Intimate side gardens are tucked away throughout the castle grounds

One of the more interesting additions to the gardens is the Niki de Saint Phalle Grotto, which was completed in 2003. The colorful grotto is lined with abstract, colorful mosaics designed by the artist.


After snapping this quick photo, I learned photographers were banned from shooting photos in the grotto. At the time, there was no posting to indicate such a ban, so I've learned to ask before shooting photos in public areas such as these.

Some of the grandest views on the Herrenhausen property are created by the seemingly endless tree allees that line the property. This is something you only see in old European landscapes. All are lined with the same tree species to ensure uniformity, and the trees are well cared for and maintained.

The long allee of lindens (Tilia cordata) create a spectacular walkway

Herrenhausen is definitely a destination garden to put on your list of must-see places. Its fame has inspired many ornamental plant species, such as Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen', Saliva officinalis 'Herrenhausen' and Buxus microphylla 'Herrenhausen', and its grounds continue to inspire gardeners worldwide. To learn more about visiting Herrenhausen go to: www.hannover.de/herrenhausen_en/gardens/index.html.