Special plant features

The mountain garden

More than 12,000 plant species bloom in the Berggarten.

The Berggarten in the Herrenhausen Gardens is located north of the Great Garden and is one of Europe’s most important botanical gardens. Originally laid out in the 17th century as a kitchen garden for the Hanoverian court, it developed over time into an internationally recognized botanical show garden. The Berggarten owes its name to a former sand dune, whose slight elevation is still visible on the grounds today.

Today, the garden is home to some 12,000 plant species from various climate zones. In this way, the Berggarten combines a scientific collection with public education and landscape design. In the open areas, perennials, trees, and shrubs, along with seasonal plantings, shape the landscape, which undergoes a constant transformation from spring through fall.

The modern show houses are a particular attraction. They provide a year-round insight into tropical and subtropical plant worlds and make the visit independent of the season. One of the most important collections is one of the largest orchid collections in Europe. It is complemented by an extensive collection of cacti and succulents as well as numerous exotic plant species.

In the center of the Berggarten is the mausoleum designed by Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves, where members of the Hanoverian royal family found their final resting place. The neoclassical building blends harmoniously into the garden landscape and underlines the historical significance of the grounds.

The Herrenhausen Orangery is directly adjacent. It was built in 1723 to overwinter around 600 orange trees and other frost-sensitive potted plants and was later given its current façade by Laves. Since the 1970s, the building has served as a venue for concerts, exhibitions and weddings, adding a cultural dimension to the garden experience.