In 1981, a former hospital vegetable patch in Erlangen transformed into something the world had never seen before. What makes this pioneering botanical space so special?

Welcome to the Aromagarten, a garden where scent takes center stage. Nestled along the Schwabach river in Erlangen's city center, this 8,900-square-meter garden invites you to discover over 120 aromatic plants through the most powerful sense of all: smell.

From the moment you enter, the air tells stories. Medicinal herbs, culinary spices, and fragrant cosmetic plants grow side by side, offering visitors a sensory journey through the world of aromatic compounds. This is not just a botanical collection but a living laboratory where science and nature meet.

From Wasteland to World First

Karl Knobloch from Friedrich Alexander University's Institute of Botany and Pharmaceutical Biology had a vision. In September 1979, he began transforming the Biegelsberger Acker, a neglected former vegetable garden covered in nettles and rubbish piles, into something entirely new.

With support from the university, city officials, pharmaceutical companies, and local citizens, thousands of plants were established within a year. Some species took root in European soil for the first time. On July 24, 1981, the world's first dedicated aromatic garden opened its gates, creating a new category of botanical space focused entirely on scent-producing plants.

A Palette of Scents

The garden houses plants that produce their aromas through different chemical pathways. You'll find sage, chamomile, and fennel producing essential oils, while onion and garlic develop sulfur-based aromatic compounds. Mustard and horseradish create their pungent oils, and wormwood offers its distinctive bitter compounds.

The collection blends traditional Franconian farmhouse garden plants with exotic species like American bergamot, Indian tulsi (holy basil), and various eucalyptus varieties. Each plant represents a different approach to producing the aromatic compounds humans have valued for centuries in medicine, cooking, and cosmetics.

Science Meets Public Education

The Aromagarten serves dual purposes that make it unique. Part of the space functions as an active research facility where students conduct practicals on plant compounds, and researchers investigate natural pesticides and the effects of aromatic substances on living cells.

But the garden welcomes everyone, not just scientists. Special guided tours help school groups and curious visitors understand how plants create their scents and why humans have cultivated these species for millennia. Each June, the garden hosts its annual "Tag des Aromagartens" (Day of the Aromatic Garden) with special tours, aromatic foods, and entertainment celebrating the garden's fragrant treasures.

Aromatic Garden Highlights & Tips

• The Essential Oil Collection Explore plants like sage, chamomile, and fennel that produce essential oils. These sections demonstrate how different plant families create their distinctive scents through specialized glands and cells.
• International Aromatic Species Don't miss the exotic plants that brought new scents to Europe, including American bergamot and Indian tulsi (holy basil), which holds sacred status in Hindu tradition.
• Traditional Franconian Herbs The garden preserves old varieties from regional farmhouse gardens, connecting visitors to the aromatic traditions of Bavaria's agricultural heritage.
• Free Admission Year-Round The garden is completely free to visit from April through October, open daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It's located at Palmsanlage, just northeast of Erlangen's city center.
• Join a Guided Tour Check the Botanical Garden Erlangen website for guided tour dates published in their "Palmenblatt" newsletter. Age-appropriate tours are available for children, making this an excellent family destination.
• Visit During the Annual Celebration Plan your visit for June to experience the "Tag des Aromagartens" with special tours, aromatic cuisine, and entertainment dedicated to the garden's fragrant plants.
• Best Time to Visit Visit on a warm morning when plant oils are most active and scents are strongest. The garden's riverside location along the Schwabach also makes it a pleasant retreat on hot days.

The Aromagarten represents a remarkable transformation from neglected ground to pioneering botanical space. When Karl Knobloch opened those gates in 1981, he created more than a garden; he established a new way of thinking about plants and their aromatic gifts to humanity.

Today, visitors can walk the same paths where students conduct research, breathe in scents from around the world, and rediscover plants their ancestors grew in Franconian gardens. In this green space along the Schwabach, science and tradition blend as naturally as the fragrances floating on the breeze.