How many know the name behind this serene corner of the English Garden? This is the von Werneck Stele. It stands as a tribute to Reinhard Freiherr von Werneck. He shaped a significant part of this beloved green space.
The von Werneck Stele commemorates a man who stepped into big shoes. Werneck succeeded Benjamin Thompson in managing the English Garden. Thompson was also known as Count Rumford. Werneck’s tenure may have been relatively short. Yet his impact is undeniably etched into the garden’s landscape.
Imagine Munich in the late 1790s. Werneck, a colonel in the Bavarian army, was entrusted with a unique task. He had to oversee the English Garden. This wasn’t just a side project for him. It soon became his main duty in March 1799. He worked under the guidance of Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell. Sckell oversaw garden construction in Bavaria.
Werneck took his responsibilities seriously. He even traveled to Bohemia and Saxony. He did this at his own expense. He wanted to learn and prepare for his new role. Werneck aimed to make the English Garden self-sufficient. He envisioned it even becoming profitable. His approach involved farming and mills. A sawmill and a grain mill were built in 1798. He nearly doubled the garden’s area. He added land to the north of the original garden.
One of Werneck’s most enduring contributions is the Kleinhesseloher See. Around 1800, he initiated the creation of this lake. It was at the northern end of the original garden. Kleinhesselohe was originally a small gathering of buildings. It marked the park’s northern entrance. It served beer, milk, and simple foods. Werneck’s lake was smaller than what we see today. Sckell later expanded it in 1812.
Werneck also oversaw improvements to the Hirschau. This newly acquired land was not ideal for agriculture. Between 1800 and 1802, he put his soldiers to work. They improved the land. These improvements came at a cost. Werneck sought funds to cover debts. He also wanted to buy more livestock for the garden. His requests were denied. To fund the garden, he bought the mill concession himself. He did this when no other buyer met the demanded price of 5000 florins.
His tenure wasn’t without challenges. Werneck clashed with Professor Anton Will. Will directed the veterinary school that Thompson had established. Werneck’s harsh words led Will to complain to the court. In 1804, Maximilian IV Joseph appointed Sckell to manage the English Garden directly. Werneck was removed. Despite this, he received assurances of complete satisfaction for his work.
Werneck expressed disappointment at losing the English Garden. It was work that he found agreeable. He had sought nothing and asked for nothing. He lost the only thing that gave him pleasure.
As consolation, he was promoted to major general. He was given charge of the corps of cadets. He held this position until retiring due to ill health in 1817. In 1818, he settled in Schloss Triesdorf. Werneck lived many more years.
Ludwig I honored Werneck’s contributions to the English Garden. The von Werneck Stele was designed by Leo von Klenze. It stands near the Kleinhesseloher See’s banks. Werneck died in Tegernsee on July 27, 1842. He was 85 years old. The von Werneck Stele stands here. It ensures that his efforts in shaping this landscape are not forgotten.