A tapestry of grasses waves gently. This is the S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide. It is a protected natural area on Munich’s northern edge. The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide spans 347 hectares. It is one of Central Europe’s largest continuous grasslands. The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide forms part of Munich’s green belt.
Once, this heathland stretched much further. Today, only fragments remain near Munich. These include the Panzerwiese and heaths near Mallertshofer Holz. You’ll also find them near Garching and Oberschlei\u00dfheim.
The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide borders Freimann’s residential areas to the south. To the west, it meets the F\u00fcrst-Wrede-Kaserne and Helmholtz Zentrum M\u00fcnchen. The U-Bahn line 6 marks its eastern edge. The Allianz Arena and Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche lie just east of the S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide. The A99 autobahn defines its northern boundary.
Interestingly, the Bundeswehr still uses land north of the autobahn as a training area. The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide falls within Oberschlei\u00dfheim, Garching, and Munich. Since 2007, the Heidefl\u00e4chenverein M\u00fcnchener Norden e. V. owns the land. Several local communities and districts are members.
The military has used the S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide since the mid-19th century. The Bavarian army used it for exercises. It also served as a shooting range. In 1935, the Wehrmacht built an ammunition depot here. After World War II, the US Army used it as a training ground. The Bundeswehr took over in 1956. They used it for military training until the early 2000s.
Munich planned a network of parks in 1975. The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide was slated to become the Nordpark. The city considered hosting the 1983 International Garden Show here. However, the location proved unsuitable. The IGA was eventually held in Westpark.
The area was provisionally protected in 2012. A citizen participation process followed. In 2016, the government designated it a nature reserve.
Sadly, the S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide still suffers from World War II remnants. Munitions and unexploded ordnance lie buried beneath the surface. Cleanup efforts continue. The 20-kilometer path network is now cleared of explosives.
The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide sits on Munich’s gravel plain. It features permeable soil. This creates dry grasslands. Traditional grazing helps maintain this unique habitat. Today, sheep graze or the area is mowed for conservation.
The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide boasts diverse flora. You can find species like the German Backenklee and silver thistle here. In total, 352 plant species call this place home.
Fungi thrive in the open grasslands. Colorful waxcaps dominate. Rarities like the fox-brown split gill also appear.
The fauna is equally impressive. Birds like the skylark and whinchat reside here. Reptiles and amphibians include the sand lizard and tree frog. Forty-one butterfly species flutter through the S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide. Grasshoppers and crickets also abound.
Parts of the S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide are closed to protect sensitive species. Dogs must be leashed. This helps prevent disturbance and nutrient enrichment. Such measures protect the delicate balance of this grassland ecosystem. The S\u00fcdliche Fr\u00f6ttmaninger Heide remains a treasure. It is a place of natural beauty amidst urban sprawl.