©
Insel Mainau / Helmut Scham
Discover the green heart of Mainau Island
The Arboretum, which means “place with trees”, forms the impressive green heart of Mainau Island and is centrally located near the castle. This unique collection of trees comprises around 250 different species, including many rare and impressive specimens.
The history of the arboretum dates back to 1827, when Prince Nikolaus Esterházy planted the first foreign tree, a tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). In 1864, Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden continued this tradition and had trees from almost every continent planted on the island's high plateau. He thus laid the foundation stone for today's arboretum, which is now home to trees that are among the largest and oldest of their kind in Germany as “champion trees”.
A walk through the arboretum not only offers you the opportunity to marvel at these impressive giant trees, but also to experience the scenic beauty of the island, embedded in a harmonious environment of paths and garden areas.
