Wolves once roamed here. Today, let’s explore the Forstenrieder Park a large wooded area southwest of Munich. It is a place of history and recreation.
The Forstenrieder Park is mainly state forest. It covers 37.09 square kilometers. Together with the adjacent Forst Kasten and Fürstenrieder Wald, it forms a 49.12 square kilometer landscape conservation area. For centuries, the nobility used this area for hunting. Today, Munich residents enjoy it for recreation.
The Forstenrieder Park touches Munich’s southern border. It borders Solln, Forstenried, and Fürstenried. Nearby towns include Pullach and Baierbrunn. The A95 motorway divides the park into two parts.
During the Ice Age, the Isar-Loisach glacier shaped this land. It deposited gravel creating the Munich gravel plain. The northern part has a 20 to 30 meter thick layer of gravel.
The Forstenrieder Park has four state forest districts. These districts are also known by field names. They are Hirschwiese in the east, Spitzelsgräben in the south, Heuberg in the west, and Sauschütt in the north.
In 1796, the Forstenrieder Park was fully surveyed. By 1803, it reached its current size. The A95 motorway runs northeast to southwest and separates the districts.
In the northeast corner, the city of Munich owns a small enclave. Here, you will find the Hubertus forester’s lodge.
The forest is divided into rectangular sections by clearings called Geräumte. These clearings date back to 1809. They bear the names of the Bavarian royal family. The northwest to southeast clearings include Link-Geräumt and Zyllnhard-Geräumt. Others are Preysing-Geräumt and Ludwigs-Geräumt. Also Hompesch-Geräumt and Marien-Geräumt. Furthermore, Friederiken-Geräumt and Dillis-Geräumt. Finally, Amalien-Geräumt. The northeast to southwest clearings include Elisen-Geräumt and Max-Joseph-Geräumt. Others are Karl-Geräumt and Theresien-Geräumt. Also Karolinen-Geräumt and Augusten-Geräumt. Finally, Charlotten-Geräumt.
In 1399, Duke Ludwig the Bearded bought Veste Baierbrunn and the forest. From that time on, the Forstenrieder Park became the Wittelsbachs’ favorite hunting ground. Around 1640 to 1650, wolves were a major problem in the Forstenrieder Park. Starting in 1687, Elector Max Emanuel created clearings and star-shaped areas for hunting.
The forest used to extend to Fürstenried Palace. Elector Max Emanuel built this palace as a hunting lodge. His successor, Elector Karl Albrecht, built four more hunting lodges from 1733 to 1735. These were the yellow, blue, red, and green houses.
On January 6, 1806, Napoleon I participated in a court hunt in the Forstenrieder Park.
Around 1810, the forest’s use began to change. The Geräumte replaced the old hunting trails. In the mid-19th century, King Max II held large Zeugjagden. These hunts involved driving wild animals into nets.
In 1850, a fence was built to protect against game damage. The western part of the park was unfenced in 1919. After traffic accidents caused by wildlife, a new fence was built along the road between Munich and Starnberg.
The Forstenrieder Park has existed in its current form since 1853. Between 1889 and 1892, nun moths destroyed many trees. Over 550,000 cubic meters of wood had to be felled.
King Ludwig III shot the last Bavarian “Königshirsch” on October 7, 1918. A memorial column marks this event.
The Forstenrieder Park suffered forest fires in 1912 and later years. Careless actions often caused these fires.
In 1924, the Hubertus shooting range was built near Unterdill. In 1925, a power line was installed along the Ludwigsgeräumt.
Extensive ammunition factories were planned in the Forstenrieder Park during World War II. However, the city of Munich resisted. Near the end of the war, bombs destroyed about 400 hectares of forest.
The Forstenrieder Park became a protected landscape on September 25, 1963. The organization Freunde des Forstenrieder Parks works to preserve the park.
From 1966 to 1969, the motorway was built dividing the area. In 1963, the Holzhackerhaus was torn down for this construction.
Storms in 1990 caused great damage in the Forstenrieder Park. The forest administration is now working to create a more resilient mixed forest.
Today, the park is a vital recreation area. It has 43 kilometers of hiking and biking trails. You will also find riding paths. People come here for running, cycling, and cross-country skiing.
The Forstenrieder Park also serves as a water source for Munich. Underground reservoirs store drinking water.
So as you explore the Forstenrieder Park remember its long history. It is a place of hunting and wolves. It is a place of royal hunts and forest fires. Now it is a place for recreation and nature. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and history surrounding you.