DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16633#0155
The French Garden in European Countries
135
The second of Max Emanuel's two castles, Nymphenburg, was less restricted. In
the grand style of its waters, and the variety in the park, it unquestionably holds the first
place among the level gardens of Germany (Fig. 456). Just as at Schleissheim, one small
branch of the Wiirm was converted into a canal, so that the approach to Nymphenburg
from the town side is marked by this long piece of water, which ends m two broad ponds
with fountains. This fine approach is carried out further in the garden; for there are narrow
canals passing round the court of honour, the castle, and the great parterre de broderie
with its ornamental fountains. These smaller canals come together again in a wide lake
FIG. 456. NYMPHENBURG-GENERAL PLAN
that includes six springs, and forms the head of the large canal, which as a middle axis cuts
through the raised boskets that lie on either side of it (Fig. 457). It ends in a wide pond, into
which a fine cascade discharges its many waters towards the castle. This falls over marble
and is decked with many statues, and loses connection with the canal, which then proceeds
farther into the park, whence the eye can range as far as to the church tower of Pasing.
A traveller, a nobleman called von Rothenstein, visited Nymphenburg in 1781, and
thus describes the splendour of the place, which up to the end of the eighteenth century
remained undisturbed by the assaults of the new fashion (Figs. 458 and 459).
The garden has 19 fountains, which give out 285 jets; and such a number of water-devices, gilt
vases and statues, meet the eye that they are better imagined than described. The great flower-parterre
is 138 fathoms in length, and has one large fountain, four smaller ones, and a six-headed one. The
parterre is laid out with box, and with vases, and beds between with many flowers, which each month
present a different picture. . . . Right in the front stand six gilt urns, ells in height . . . next there
are dragon fountains to right and left with ever so many dragons and snakes separately lying on hills
of stone. ... In the parterre there stand 28 gilt statues, groups, vases, and urns, and near the box-
espaliers 17 statues made of white marble. After the dragon fountains come two of children, each child
135
The second of Max Emanuel's two castles, Nymphenburg, was less restricted. In
the grand style of its waters, and the variety in the park, it unquestionably holds the first
place among the level gardens of Germany (Fig. 456). Just as at Schleissheim, one small
branch of the Wiirm was converted into a canal, so that the approach to Nymphenburg
from the town side is marked by this long piece of water, which ends m two broad ponds
with fountains. This fine approach is carried out further in the garden; for there are narrow
canals passing round the court of honour, the castle, and the great parterre de broderie
with its ornamental fountains. These smaller canals come together again in a wide lake
FIG. 456. NYMPHENBURG-GENERAL PLAN
that includes six springs, and forms the head of the large canal, which as a middle axis cuts
through the raised boskets that lie on either side of it (Fig. 457). It ends in a wide pond, into
which a fine cascade discharges its many waters towards the castle. This falls over marble
and is decked with many statues, and loses connection with the canal, which then proceeds
farther into the park, whence the eye can range as far as to the church tower of Pasing.
A traveller, a nobleman called von Rothenstein, visited Nymphenburg in 1781, and
thus describes the splendour of the place, which up to the end of the eighteenth century
remained undisturbed by the assaults of the new fashion (Figs. 458 and 459).
The garden has 19 fountains, which give out 285 jets; and such a number of water-devices, gilt
vases and statues, meet the eye that they are better imagined than described. The great flower-parterre
is 138 fathoms in length, and has one large fountain, four smaller ones, and a six-headed one. The
parterre is laid out with box, and with vases, and beds between with many flowers, which each month
present a different picture. . . . Right in the front stand six gilt urns, ells in height . . . next there
are dragon fountains to right and left with ever so many dragons and snakes separately lying on hills
of stone. ... In the parterre there stand 28 gilt statues, groups, vases, and urns, and near the box-
espaliers 17 statues made of white marble. After the dragon fountains come two of children, each child