Flower Island Mainau offers year-round beauty with 45 hectare of impressive gardens, dining and shopping. We host the second largest butterfly house in Germany that invites you to explore a tropical world with colourful butterflies and blossoms. Our themed gardens include a Rhododendron Slope, Italian Rose Garden, Dahlia Garden and Hydrangea Path, Herbaceous Garden. In this articles we will list Top 10 Things to do in Mainau Flower Island.
- Family-friendly top destination
- For Nature Lovers
- For Groups
1.Baroque Palace – (Barockschloss)
The palace’s heart is the former audience hall, the so-called “White Hall”, kept in the colours white and gold. Its appearance as we know it today dates back to 1883. The hall is only open to the public for concerts or special events.
The Heraldic Hall, the central room in the basement of the former Corps de Logis, is open to the public for various exhibitions. And also the palace cafe rooms leading through to the Palm House.
2. Dahlia Garden (Dahliegarten)
Dahlias with their floral magnificence and great diversity are the autumn attraction on Mainau Island. The island’s southern slope turns into a true firework of colours from the end of August until mid October when around 12,000 of these plants bloom in the Dahlia Garden.
Sun-drenched dahlias in all imaginable colours, forms and sizes delight our visitors. That’s why it’s not easy to choose the annul Mainau Queen of Dahlias. Cactus, semi-cactus, colorette, single, starfish, pom-pom, anemone and peony dahlias and many more brighten up autumn’s final days.
3. Butterfly House – colourful butterflies and blossoms (Schmetterlinghaus)
A visit to the second largest butterfly house in Germany is certainly one of the highlights of a Mainau day out. Relish the tropical feeling as you walk through the exotic landscape of unique vegetation.
Observe and admire approx. 120 different species of free flying tropical butterflies from Africa, Asia, Central and South America in the Butterfly House, kept at approx. 90% humidity and temperatures between 25 and 30°C.
4.Italian Rose Garden (Italienischer Rosengarten)
The Queen of Flowers has found a spot befitting her status in the Italian Rose Garden south of Mainau Palace. Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden commissioned the building of the strict geometric garden.
Pergolas, marble statues and fountains radiate a flair that invites visitors to stroll around, linger and enjoy.
5.Italian Floral-Water-Cascade (Italienische Blumen-Wassertreppe)
The Italian Floral-Water-Cascade made from Ticino granite connects the Mediterranean terraces with the lower lying lakeshore.
The cascade is built in the style of Italian Renaissance gardens and is flanked by pillar-shaped cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens).
During spring and summer the changing display of flowers exude a Mediterranean flair and in autumn the trees show their wonderful colours.
6.Mediterranean Terrace ( Mediterran-Terrassen)
A perfect setting for the Mediterranean plant world: the Mediterranean Terrace with the fountain arena. Many tropical plants line the path to the fountain arena during the summer months.
The luxuriant terrace landscape of the extensive gardens lends a Mediterranean flair and offers a unique panoramic view of Lake Constance.
7.Palace Church St. Marien ( Schlosskirche St. Marien)
The ceiling murals and high alter painting by Franz Joseph Spiegler are dedicated to the life of Maria. The rich work by Francesco Pozzi is more than just decoration – it guides the gaze to the all important: “heavenly area” of chancel and high alter.
The church is an entire artwork showing the religiousness at the time.
8.Historic Citrus Collection ( Historische Zitrussammlung)
Citrus plants have a long tradition on Mainau. Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden brought the first exemplars to the island in 1886.
Count Lennart Bernadotte started to increase the collection in 1968.
Some of the especially old and rare varieties came from various botanic gardens and private collections of old ruling Italian families among them also from the gardens of the Medici.
9.Gardeners’ Tower (Gärtnerturm)
The Gardeners’ Tower is found vis-á-vis from the palace. Its massive basement dates back to the Middle Ages and was built from residual material from the medieval fortress which stood on the island at the time.
The octagonal building above the basement and the helm roof were added in the 19th century.
10.Together in the Garden (Zusammen im Garten)
The artwork called “Together in the Garden” is 3metres tall and 9metres wide and has enriched the southern side of the Flower Island for several years now. It has become a popular photo motif with our visitors.
Things to do in Mainau Flower Island
- Baroque Palace – (Barockschloss)
- Dahlia Garden (Dahliegarten)
- Butterfly House – colourful butterflies and blossoms (Schmetterlinghaus)
- Italian Rose Garden (Italienischer Rosengarten)
- Italian Floral-Water-Cascade (Italienische Blumen-Wassertreppe)
- Mediterranean Terrace ( Mediterran-Terrassen)
- Palace Church St. Marien ( Schlosskirche St. Marien)
- Historic Citrus Collection ( Historische Zitrussammlung)
- Gardeners’ Tower (Gärtnerturm)
- Together in the Garden (Zusammen im Garten)