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All Germany Munich Klenze's Stone Bench
AO Edited

Klenze's Stone Bench

The unusually large seat sits atop the base of a ruined temple.

Munich, Germany

Added By
Albert
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The bench.   Rufus46
The bench.   Rufus46
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
The stone bench.   N p holmes
Details of the bench.   Rufus46
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About

When viewed from the front, this enormous bench looks like it's isolated on an island within a creek. Look closely, and you'll realize the peaceful seat is actually plopped atop a peninsula and can be walked to. A strip of land behind the bench, once hidden from view by a veil of trees, but now the "secret" entrance is easy to spot. It lead visitors to the spot.

A beautiful wood and stone temple once stood where the bench is within Munich’s English Garden. The temple, which had been designed and built in the 18th century, featured a statue of Apollo. But as much of the temple was made of wood, it wasn’t long before the whole structure began to fall into disrepair.

In 1838, Leo von Klenze, court architect to Bavarian King Ludwig I, replaced the ruined temple with the massive stone bench. The round base of the temple inspired its curved design. The seat is inscribed with the a simple reminder of the changed landscape: "Hier wo Ihr wallet, da war sonst Wald nur und Sumpf" ("Here where you meander was once only wood and marsh").

The bench is occasionally used by local students to read, study, or have a late night beer.

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Parks Temples Gardens Plants

Community Contributors

Added By

albozes

Edited By

kayleighhamer, Kerry Wolfe, Collector of Experiences

  • kayleighhamer
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

June 19, 2018

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Sources
  • https://www.baum-und-astwerk.de/en/footer/news/item/artikel/muenchens-gruene-lunge-der-englische-garten.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Englischer_Garten
Klenze's Stone Bench
1A Englischer Garten
Munich
Germany
48.15093, 11.59391
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