Could you imagine this area as an almost impassable hunting ground? Once, this location was a landscape rich in alluvial water holes. It was a place with a large stock of waterfowl. Today, we stand before the Diana Fountain.
The Diana Fountain graces Kufsteiner Platz in Bogenhausen. Mathias Gasteiger’s design dominates the square with its grand scale. The Diana Fountain reminds us of this area’s wild past.
Thomas Mann described daily walks with his dog Bauschan. These walks occurred in this wilderness. Mann lived near the Diana Fountain in a villa. The villa was located at Poschingerstrasse 1. Mann wrote about this in his 1918 novella “Herr und Hund.”
Let’s consider the fountain’s artistic details. Note the powerful figures surrounding Diana. They represent the hunt and the wilderness. The water flows. It evokes the area’s natural abundance. The Diana Fountain stands as a reminder. It reminds us of Munich’s evolution from wild landscape to urban space.
Now, let’s step back. Let’s appreciate how the fountain interacts with its surroundings. The Diana Fountain serves as a focal point. It provides a sense of history and place. Passers-by pause. They reflect on the stories the fountain holds.
Pause for a moment. Feel the energy of Kufsteiner Platz. Imagine the echoes of the past. The Diana Fountain connects us to Munich’s history. It links us to its art, literature, and natural environment.
The Diana Fountain is not the only Diana Temple in Munich. There is also a Diana Temple in the Hofgarten. It is a twelve-sided gazebo from the Renaissance period. The gazebo has eight open and four closed round arcades. The Diana Temple is the crossing point of the main and diagonal axes of the Hofgarten.
Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria initiated the Diana Temple. It was created between 1613 and 1617 in Italian style. The Diana Temple forms the center of the garden. Heinrich Schön likely created it around 1615.
A bronze figure crowns the roof. Hans Krumpper created it in 1594. It symbolizes the riches of Bavaria. Inside the temple, you can discover four wall mounted shell fountains.
Like the whole Hofgarten, the Diana Temple is usually open to the public. Exceptions are rare. The Diana Temple was used as a backdrop for filming. For example, it was used in The Three Musketeers 2011. Access from Odeonsplatz is occasionally not possible. This occurs during major events such as Klassik am Odeonsplatz.
Concerts are held in the pavilion. Street musicians entertain park visitors. In the summer evenings, it serves as a meeting place for dancers. They dance Forró, Tango Argentino, salsa, and swing. These events are tolerated. They are non-commercial. There must be no noise disturbance to residents. There must be no harassment of other visitors. Sometimes a crowd of people form to watch the dancers on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
An agreement with the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes is required. This is required for street musicians’ permits.