bergarten

Berggarten is a German term that can refer to two related concepts. First, berggarten denotes a hillside or terraced garden built on slopes, often using stone retaining walls and stairways to create level planting areas. Such gardens are common in mountainous and hilly regions, including the Alps and parts of Central Europe. They were historically used to exploit microclimates, improve drainage, and extend cultivable space for ornamental plants, herbs, or crops. The design typically emphasizes terraces, exposed sun, and, where present, irrigation features.

Second, Berggarten also refers to a specific botanical garden: the Berggarten, a public botanical garden that is part of the Herrenhausen Gardens near Hanover, Germany. As a garden open to visitors, it houses diverse plant collections from various climates and habitats, usually arranged in outdoor beds and in greenhouses. It serves purposes of conservation, research, education, and recreation, and forms a component of the larger Herrenhausen complex alongside the nearby Great Garden and Georgengarten.

In cultural and horticultural contexts, berggärten illustrate how garden design adapts to sloped terrain and how dedicated botanical institutions curate plant diversity for public access and scholarly study.