by El Capricho Park, Madrid
El Capricho on the outskirts of Madrid is one of the less well -known parks in the city. It was built by the Duke and the Duchess of Osuna in 1784 and visited by artists of the 18th century like Francisco de Goya. The 17 hectares of gardens were designed by Jean Baptiste Mulot, who also worked in the Petit Trianon Gardens in the Palace of Versailles. You are in three sections: Italian, French and English landscape. The park also has a small lake, a labyrinth, a bandstand and a manor house. A fascinating feature is an underground bunker that was built in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War – there are free tours of the weekend.
Open Weekends and public holidaysPresent 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., April to SeptemberThen 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., October to MarchPresent Esmadrid.com
Onion garden, London
They are never far from a garden in London: 20% of the city are public green spaces, including about 3,000 parks, and in 2019 it became the world’s first national park. In addition, eight royal parks and wide areas with green like Hampstead Heath have numerous hidden areas. One of them is the tiny onion garden near the Victoria Station and St. James Park. According to the tour guide Jack Chesher, it was a “dilapidated concrete corner” until the end of 2021, when it started to be transformed into the “Hanging Gardens of Westminster”. The Pocket Park now has more than 200 plant species – including a few onions – and shows works of art such as mosaic wall art and sculptures. There is a café and events such as singing, craft workshops and poems.
Open days days 7.30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (until Thursday at 10 p.m.), Weekends 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.Present Theoniongarden.org
Anne Frank Garden, Paris
This little-known, walled garden, which has found a dead end in the Marais, once belonged to the Hotel de Saint-Nagan. The hotel is now the Musée d’Histoire du Judaiisme (Mahj), and the garden that is dedicated to Anne Frank is open to the public. The central property dates from the 17th century, and there is a small orchard, vegetable garden, pergola and child’s play. Most of the movements are the chestnut tree, which was planted in 2007 from a transplantation of the tree, which Anne viewed from her window in Amsterdam and wrote in her diary. In addition to the MAHJ, the Pompidou center is just a short walk away.
Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in summer, Paris.fr
Brera Botanical Garden, Milan
Hidden behind the south wall of the Palazzo Brera in the center of Milan is an old medical garden. Humiliati priests grew plants and meditated here in the 14th century, followed by the Jesuits. In 1775 Empress Maria Theresa from Austria ordered in a botanical garden and has been managed by the University of Milan since 1935. The 5,000 square meter garden still has its original layout: two oval ponds; an arboretum that contains two centuries-old Ginkgo Biloba trees and other exotic specimens; and themed flowers (medical, Mediterranean, plants for coloring, textiles, paper …)
Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.until October 31Then 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., until March 31stOrtobanici.unimi.it
Centralbadets Garden, Stockholm
In the middle of Stockholm, on the main shopping street of Drottninggatan, there is a hidden inner courtyard garden. In the 18th century it was the garden of the farm in which the architect Carl Hårleman lived – two of the pear trees have so far been assumed from this time. Another architect, Willhelm Klemming, bought the property in 1901, renovated the garden and built the Centralbadets in 1904 – still an affordable day -spa. The lush little garden has a pond with a water sculpture, flower beds, winding paths and shady places to sit. There are three neighboring restaurants with outdoor tables.
Closed at night, parker.stockholm
The garden of the royal library, Copenhagen
Hidden between the Christenborg Palace and the Royal Library in a historical part of the Central Copy Hagen there is a quiet public garden. The garden was built in 1920 on Tøjhushavnen, an old naval port. The memories of this maritime past include a pond in the middle of the garden with an eight -meter -high column, which shoots a water outbreak every hour, and an old mooring ring at one end. There is also a statue of the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, whose manuscripts are in the library collection and are occasionally exhibited. There are benches under the trees to sit softly with their own book.
Open 6-10 a.m. Visuchencopenhagen.com all year round
Károlyi-Kert, Budapest
The Károlyi-Kert hidden in the palace district is viewed as a Budapest’s oldest garden and contains Hungary’s oldest mulberry tree. It was once the private garden of the Károlyi Palace and a public park since 1932 (do not let yourself be put off by the forbidden-looking iron railings). It is a mixture of styles: geometric central flower beds and fountains as well as paths in English style and plant arrangements. There is a children’s playground and a statue of a loved one: Károly, a Belgian giant rabbit. The Wine Bar and the Cseenden Társ restaurant is located next to the park and has tables outdoors right in front of the goal.
Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. In summer, Welovebudapest.com
University Library Dachgarten, Warsaw
The garden at the University of Warsaw library is one of the largest roof gardens in Europe in more than one hectare (2.5 acres). It was opened in 2002 and remains a little -known escape from the busy Powiśle district. A gentle slope leads to the lower garden, which has a duck pond and a number of granite sculptures. The upper garden is divided into four colorful sections: gold, silver, red and green. The areas are connected by paths, bridges and pergolas, and a cascading water feature connects the upper and lower parts. The garden offers a panoramic view of Warsaw’s skyline.
Upper Garden open from April to October, the lower garden is open all year rounden.uw.edu.pl
VRTBA Garden, Prague
Although it is close to sights such as Charles Bridge and Lesser Town Square, this terraced garden is difficult to find on Petřín Hill. Visitors who are looking for are rewarded with baroque beauty. The Italian garden was created around 1720 on the site of the former Vrtbovský palace vineyards. Three terrace platforms connected by levels are full of horn bows, yews and tens of thousands of flowers and shrubs. The gardens are decorated with statues, vases and paintings, and there is a ceremonial lighting event twice a year. From the pavilion on the upper terrace there is a view of the castle, the cathedral and the old and new cities.
£ 5 adults/£ 4 children/£ 15 families, Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to OctoberPresent Prag.eu
Diomedes botanical gardens, Athens
The National Garden in Central Athen is a well-known attraction, but the city also has a less well-known botanical garden, a 20-minute bus ride away. Most of this huge 186 hectare green space is left as a natural habitat, but 11% (about 20 hectares) are cultivated and contains more than 2,500 plant species. Visitors can walk through the arboretum with trees from most continents. The section of the ornamental plants with 15 flower beds and 25 ponds; The historical plant sections with types of old Greeks; And much more – medical and aromatic plants, plants of economic importance, refuse, rare plants … there is also a small café.
Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.Present Weekends and public holidays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Present closed in AugustDiomedes-bg.uoa.gr
