Römischer garden

The Römischer Garden is a heritage park in Hamburg that slopes upward from the Elbe riverbank across multiple levels. It features stone staircases, planted flowerbeds, smooth grass areas, and a reflecting pond that sits as a focal point among the terraces.

A merchant named Anton Julius Richter created this garden in the late 1800s after being inspired by his travels in Italy. The hedge theater was added later in the 1920s and reflects his passion for formal European garden design.

The garden got its name from its Italian-style hedge theater built in 1924, with neatly clipped yew and boxwood hedges forming geometric shapes. Visitors can see how the formal hedges create rooms and paths that shape how people move through the space.

Access to the garden requires climbing 128 stone steps from Falkensteiner Ufer, which demands moderate physical effort. Comfortable footwear is important, and visitors should allow time to rest during the climb.

The central lawn is named Römische Terrasse and includes a small pond designed as a Mirror of Heaven, reflecting Richter's Italian influences. This poetic design choice shows how deeply his European preferences shaped even the smallest details of the garden.