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The Britzer Garten (Britzer Garden) in the south of Berlin is a green oasis. The park's diversity makes it an ideal excursion destination, and not just for botany lovers. Children, sports enthusiasts and those seeking relaxation also get their money's worth on the 90-hectare site.

The large park was originally created for the 1985 Bundesgartenschau - a biennial federal horticulture show. It was completely redesigned on land that was used for agriculture at the time - every hill and every lake was specially designed. The concept for the Britzer Garten comes from Stuttgart landscape architect Wolfgang Miller. After the Bundesgartenschau, the site remained a park and initially offered West Berliners, and later everyone, a high recreational value.

At the center of the Britzer Garten is the almost 10-hectare lake. It is surrounded by hills, flower groves, meadows and gardens. Visitors can stroll through their own botanical worlds in four themed gardens.

Around 35 different types of perennials grow on 10,000 square meters in the Karl Foerster Perennial Garden. It was created in honor of the famous perennial breeder Karl Foerster (1874-1970). Delphiniums and lilies, among others, bloom here. The varied planting ensures a long flowering period.

The Geological Garden guides visitors through the history of the earth with the help of various earth structures. In the middle of the snail-shaped garden is a spring stone with a water source.

The Hexengarten (Witches' Garden) has been part of the Britzer Garten from the very beginning. The medieval castle and herb garden is reminiscent of a castle with its high walls and borders. Medieval ornamental plants such as columbine, Madonna lily, roses, wild strawberries and troll flowers grow here. If you would like to find out more about the effects and uses of the individual herbs and plants, you can find out for yourself on the information boards or take part in a guided tour.

Three flower shows take place in the Britzer Garten every year. The season begins with the Tulipan tulip show, where visitors can marvel at the tulip varieties in the meadows and flower beds. The rhododendron and azalea show takes place a little later in the year. The Dahlienfeuer (dahlia fire) in mid-August closes the season.

In addition to the flower shows, numerous other events take place in the Britzer Garten. In addition to major events such as concerts, theater, park festivals and sporting events, there are regular themed tours and workshops for adults and children.

In addition to the four themed gardens, the Britzer Garten offers plenty of space for relaxation and outdoor activities. The extensive meadow landscape, criss-crossed by lakes, is ideal for picnics as well as long walks. Picnic tables, deckchairs and benches invite you to linger. Tall trees provide shade in summer. If you want to get active, you can use the large meadows as a sports field or take part in one of the many sports activities on offer in the park.

The Britzer Garten has lots to offer for children. Whether on the water playground or in the clay village or rather on the classic play equipment such as swings, balancing poles and table tennis tables - the children don't know where to let off steam first. Little animal lovers will also get their money's worth: in addition to cattle, sheep and goats, the Britzer Garten is also home to donkeys, chickens and ducks. The environmental education center offers workshops and guided tours especially for children.

If you want to explore the entire park but can't or don't want to walk that far, you can explore Britzer Garten on the historic park railroad. The 600-millimeter funicular winds its way along a winding circuit at the edge of the park. You can get on and off at five stations within the park. The entire round trip takes one hour.

In the middle of Britzer Garten, a mill shows how grain is turned into flour. Today, the Britzer Mühle is one of the few mills still in operation in Berlin and is a listed building.

Art and architecture are the perfect complement to the diverse flora and park design. Sculptures, installations and architecture can be found throughout the Britzer Garten. Most of them were created in 1985 as part of the "Art in Architecture" funding program and focus on the relationship between nature and art. Various buildings such as the Orangery, the Café am See with its grottos and the Karl Foerster Pavilion were designed with a great deal of understanding for the Britzer Garten and are testimony to their art-historical era. Particularly impressive is Europe's largest sundial with a diameter of 99 meters.

If you don't want to bring your own picnic to the Britzer Garten, you can take advantage of the numerous catering options in the park. Whether it's a snack, lunch or coffee and cake - the snack bars and restaurants provide the necessary refreshments during the summer season.