Großer Garten

Großer Garten is a public park in Dresden, Germany, covering 2.1 square kilometers with geometrically arranged paths, ponds and green spaces. The grounds follow a French garden principle with symmetrical avenues, a central palace building and several lakes including Lake Carola.

The garden originated in 1676 under John George III of Saxony initially as a hunting ground and was later redesigned following French models. During World War II the site suffered heavy damage that was gradually repaired in the following decades.

The Summer Palace displays reliefs depicting scenes from Goethe's Faust on its exterior walls and hosts rotating exhibitions of baroque sculptures inside. Visitors can observe these decorations on the building and experience the connection between architecture and German literature.

Visitors reach the park through several tram stops at its entrances and can rent bicycles or canoes at Lake Carola. The miniature railway runs on a circular route through the grounds and offers a relaxed way to cover longer distances.

The Parkeisenbahn is a 5.5 kilometer miniature railway circuit established in 1950 and operated by young volunteers who work as staff. Passengers can ride this train to several stations and explore different areas of the park along the way.

Location: Dresden

Elevation above the sea: 114 m

Website: http://grosser-garten-dresden.de/en/home

GPS coordinates: 51.03750,13.76306

Latest update: December 14, 2025 07:51