Sckell Memorial

When Ludwig von Sckell moved to Munich in 1804, he was raised to the rank of Court Garden Director by the new ruler, Maximilian Joseph. Now he was able to start work on transforming a huge stretch of land, more than five kilometres in length, into a harmonious and rhythmically subdivided park, the Englischer Garten.

Sckell wanted only to retain staffage buildings - those used for decorative rather than purely functional purposes - in Neoclassicist style. The sentimental and exotic motifs, built in 18th century, were to be removed. Sckell died in 1823, and his ideas on staffage buildings were realized by Leo von Klenze.

In the public park, on the bank of the Kleinhesseloher Lake, rises the Sckell Memorial, which was built to designs by Leo von Klenze, and erected shortly after the death of Sckell, the great garden architect. The inscription reads: “To the great master of fine garden art, who crowned his lasting achievements to promote the purest enjoyment of the earth with this park, his Sovereign Max Joseph caused this memorial to be set. MDCCCXXIV.”