PALMENGARTEN

e Palmengarten or Palm garden, a major tourist attraction is one of three botanical gardens in Frankfurt. It is located in the Westend-Süd district covering a surface of 2,20,000 sqm. Like many public locations in Frankfurt, it was privately nanced and implemented by the architect Heinrich Siesmayer and opened to the public in 1871. e botanical exhibits are organized according to their origin in free-air or climate-controlled greenhouses, which also contain numerous tropical and subtropical plants. To the right and le of the entrance are the exhibition and teaching rooms. In the south wing are some carnivorous plants and in the north wing are some American pineapple plants which are grown indoors. While there are numerous beautiful gardens for visitors to stroll along and admire, the ‘Palmenhaus’ is the main core of the original garden. It was built in 1869 and is one of the largest buildings of its kind in Europe. A large number of subtropical palm trees, tree ferns, plants with long and tender stems, and broad-leaved plants together create an impression of verdant, subtropical forests. A stream that cascades down from the high back of a hill-shaped structure and in a grotto-like passageway under the hill, aquariums add colour to a tropical underwater world.

One can plan a full-day or half-day trip along the romantic Rhine River from Frankfurt and take in the UNESCO-listed wonders of the Rhine Valley. A full-day tour itinerary includes a 50-minute bus drive to the Rhine Valley along the river banks, then up the hills to the Niederwald Monument. For the more adventurous, they can join the ride with the ropeway down into the valley which is only possible in the summertime with a small extra fee. A light lunch is served but drinks and dessert are not included in the lunch arrangements. A er lunch and a walk to the pier, the tour will continue down-streaming along the river for one to soak in the spectacular scenery, visit Loreley Rock and end the day in Drosselgasse. Half-day Rhine Valley tours start only in the a ernoon. One can enjoy a Rhine river cruise which starts from Kaub to Assmannshausen, followed by a wine-tasting session and dinner. Departure is at 11:15 am for a full-day tour and at 3:15 pm for the half-day tour from Wiesenhuettenplatz 38. More details are available on the website.