Hirschgarten Munich: Your guide to Munich’s most beautiful green oasis

The sun is shining over Munich and a thirst for a cool Maß of beer is calling? Then there’s hardly a better destination than Munich’s famous beer gardens. For us, the decision was made quickly: We’re going to the Hirschgarten Munich, a true institution.

From Electoral Farmland to a Munich Centerpiece

What is known today as a spacious park and a huge beer garden was, for a long time, purely agricultural land for the Bavarian court. In 1720, an electoral pheasantry was established there. The pheasants bred there served to supply the court with game for the lordly table. In 1767, it was decided to grow hops on the land for the electoral breweries. In 1786, they finally tried their hand at silkworm breeding. The hop fields gave way to about 17,000 mulberry trees, which served as a food source for the animals. The goal was to become independent of expensive silk imports. It quickly turned out that the entire project was economically unprofitable, and the Elector had it shut down again.

From an exclusive hunting ground to a park for all

After all the failed attempts, it was time for a new idea in 1780. Elector Karl Theodor commissioned his Chief Huntsman (Oberstjägermeister), Johann Theodor Freiherr von Waldkirch, to create a prestigious hunting ground for the court. South of Nymphenburg Palace, a “Thiergarten” (animal garden) of almost 45 hectares was thus created. A part of this extensive area, which at that time still consisted mostly of forest, was fenced in to prevent the game from leaving the territory. Around 100 fallow and red deer were released into this enclosure.

In its early years, the Hirschgarten served as the court’s hunting ground and was inaccessible to the public. However, this state of exclusivity lasted only a decade.

The French Revolution and the associated spread of revolutionary ideas shook the European monarchies. The ruling Wittelsbachs in Munich felt the pressure to appease the populace. Small “gifts” were intended to maintain calm. One of these “gifts” to the people was the opening of the Hirschgarten to the entire population and the founding of the English Garden. The private hunting ground thus became a public space overnight and one of Munich’s most popular excursion destinations.

With the visitors also came thirst. In 1791, Elector Karl Theodor reacted quickly and granted the responsible hunter permission to operate an inn in the newly built “Jägerhaus” (Hunter’s Lodge) in 1791. That was the birth of the beer garden in the Hirschgarten. From then on, a Maß of beer and a “Brotzeit” (a hearty snack) became an inseparable part of an outing to the Hirschgarten.

A Park Through the Ages

The first major change was brought by progress: For the construction of the railway line from Munich to Augsburg along the southern edge of the Hirschgarten, about 5 hectares of the area had to make way for the construction of the tracks.

After the First World War and with the abolition of the monarchy in Bavaria, the next change took place. In the course of this reorganization, the Hirschgarten and the Jägerhaus (Hunter’s Lodge) were transferred to a foundation under public law (Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds – Wittelsbach Compensation Fund). The foundation has the mandate to manage the assets transferred to it in order to use the proceeds to cover the maintenance of the members of the House of Wittelsbach.

Since that time, the Hirschgarten has been neither purely state property nor private property. The foundation leases it out continuously (to the Augustiner Brewery, which in turn subleases the gastronomic operations).

The greatest threat in its history occurred in the Hirschgarten during the National Socialist era. Munich, as the “Capital of the Movement,” was to be radically redesigned according to Adolf Hitler’s plans. The Hirschgarten was included in these plans and was intended to make way for a new main railway station. In preparation for the construction, the regime had hundreds of old oak trees felled in the central part of the park in the 1930s. This destruction has left visible scars on the park’s tree population to this day.

After the war, a new era of reconstruction began. The city of Munich acquired part of the site in 1956 and started a comprehensive reforestation program. An invisible but massive modernization took place in 1996: deep beneath the park, one of Europe’s largest underground rainwater retention basins was built. This enormous cavern, with a length of 210 meters and a capacity of 90,000 cubic meters, serves Munich’s urban drainage system.

The Hirschgarten Munich Today: A Green Oasis for Everyone

Today, the park offers a variety of recreational opportunities that appeal to all age groups, making it one of the most popular excursion destinations for families.

For Families and Children
Numerous playgrounds are distributed throughout the area. A children’s carousel near the beer garden completes the offering for the little ones.

For Teenagers and Sports Enthusiasts
In the southern part of the park, there is a modern sports and activity center. This includes a large skate park, a basketball court, a small artificial turf soccer field, a climbing wall, and fitness equipment for adults.

For General Recreation
Expansive meadows invite visitors to relax, picnic, and play ball games. Designated barbecue areas are a popular meeting spot in the summer.

The Deer Enclosure
Today, fallow deer and mouflon live on a two-hectare area and can be observed by visitors and fed with food from vending machines.

A historical anecdote: Until the Second World War, the deer still roamed freely between the tables of the beer garden. Today, the fencing ensures the safety of both animals and visitors.

The Centerpiece: The Königlicher Hirschgarten Beer Garden

After a short walk from the tram, we reach the beer garden of the Königlicher Hirschgarten Munich.

The operation of the beer garden still belongs to the Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds (Wittelsbach Compensation Fund). This fund has leased the entire area to the Augustiner Brewery, which in turn subleases the operation to an independent innkeeper.

The Hirschgarten Munich is not just a summer operation. There is a large and cozy inn (Wirtshaus) that is open year-round. Even just walking through the cozy inn, I can feel the traditional atmosphere. This is definitely an option for cooler days too!

The beer garden also opens its gates during good weather in winter. A part of the beer garden is then transformed into a popular recreational facility with eight ice stock rinks, inviting visitors to traditional ice stock sport (Eisstockschießen).

Otherwise, numerous events take place throughout the year. These include traditional festivals like the Strong Beer Festival (Starkbierfest) and the “Wirtshauswiesn” (Inn Oktoberfest) during Oktoberfest, as well as culinary theme weeks featuring seasonal specialties like goose, duck, or game dishes.

The beer garden itself is huge. With its approximately 8,000 seats, it is considered the largest beer garden in Munich, if not the world. No wonder we had to get our bearings first.

The beer garden is divided into two main areas: a very large self-service area, which represents the core of the Bavarian beer garden tradition, and a smaller, served area for guests who prefer restaurant service.

Enjoyment in the Self-Service Area

We were drawn to the self-service area with its tables under shady old chestnut trees.

Before we looked for a spot, we went to get a beer. A special feature, found only in the Hirschgarten, is the ritual of mug washing. In the self-service area, we grabbed a “Maßkrug” (one-liter mug) from a shelf. Then we went to a sort of fountain or wash basin. Cold water flows from the tap here, and we used it to rinse out the mug. With the still-dripping beer mug, we then went to one of the “Schänken” (serving counters). There, they filled it for us with freshly tapped Augustiner.

At the serving counters, the beer is dispensed from a 200-liter wooden barrel. This is another living tradition; these barrels are reverently called “Hirschen” (stags). The custom dates directly back to the hunting parties of King Ludwig I, who always had such a barrel stored in the Hirschgarten for his hunting excursions to serve his guests.

With our beers, we now headed to one of the many tables. If you like, you can, of course, also buy something to eat. But according to the Bavarian Beer Garden Ordinance (Bayerische Biergartenverordnung), which dates back to a royal decree from 1812, guests in the self-service area are permitted to bring their own “Brotzeit” (snack). This tradition arose from a historical compromise that allowed brewers to serve beer but not to sell food, in order to protect the innkeepers.

Our tip: Just pack a few snacks, sit down under the old chestnut trees, and enjoy the unique atmosphere in the Hirschgarten Munich. Cheers!

Visitor informations

Address

Königlicher Hirschgarten München
Hirschgarten 1
80639 München

Website

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