If you are exploring Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, a stroll through the Alter Botanischer Garten (The Old Botanic Garden) offers a delightful retreat into nature and history. Located at Am Stadtgraben 9, this site originally served as the university's botanical garden before transforming into a public municipal park. Its rich botanical origins date back to 1535, when renowned botanist Leonhart Fuchs first grew medicinal plants beside the still-existing Nonnenhaus.
As you wander through the grounds today, you are stepping on land shaped by centuries of academic passion, spanning from Duke Eberhard III's 1663 Hortus medicus to a major expansion ordered by King Frederick of Württemberg in 1804. Throughout the nineteenth century, the garden flourished, showcasing thousands of species, early greenhouses, a lecture hall, and a impressive palm house added in 1886. Although the university moved its active research collection to a new site in 1969, the historic old garden remains a welcoming, peaceful green space.
It is open daily to the public without charge, making it an essential, budget-friendly stop to unwind, appreciate local history, and enjoy a quiet pause while touring the city.
What to see at Alter Botanischer Garten Tübingen
- Historic origin tracing back to Leonhart Fuchs's 1535 medicinal plant garden near the Nonnenhaus
- Former university botanical garden turned serene municipal park located at Am Stadtgraben 9
- Rich academic history featuring early greenhouses, an 1846 institute building, and an 1886 palm house
- Free daily admission for all visitors
Visiting tips
Take time to locate the nearby Nonnenhaus, which still stands today where the garden's earliest medicinal plant roots were planted in 1535.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Alter Botanischer Garten Tübingen is easy to reach on Tübingen’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Bebenhausen Abbey and St. George's Collegiate Church. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Tübingen travel guide.
See the full Tübingen travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.