heller garden

Whatever you do, find time to visit these lovely gardens. The plants and the way the garden leads you from one area to the next is quite enchanting.

These gardens are a delightful experience. Not just for the average gardener who would be interested in the planting but also for anyone who wants a relaxing stroll around a fascinating venue. Packed with creative sculptures indicative of a quirky sense of humour these gardens are delightful. On a summer morning we enjoyed discovering many delights and visited again in the same week. Fully recommended. Do not miss.

Lots to see and the museum was interesting, would love to attend one of the open air concerts that are performed here. Quite expensive so need plenty of time to make it worthwhile

Liked the tranquility and the variety of trees and flowers away from the main road. Nothing to dislike.

Set on a hillside with lots of ponds and running water. There had been violent storms a week with many trees in the area uprooted but the damage in the gardens had been quickly sorted. Spent a charming last afternoon of our holiday strolling round these gardens with plenty of stops to sit on some of the many seats and take in the views.

Beautiful gardens with quirky touches, remember to wear mosquito spray otherwise the little critters get you. These gardens are lovely peaceful.

There is something new and lovely at every turn in this wonderful botanic treat. The twisting paths lead you though jungles, forest, rocky outcrops, Zen-scapes and much more. Look out for the hummingbird hawk-moths flitting through the blue flowers. (Well they were when we visited in late September.) There is so much to see here. The rustic paths are set with eye-catching ceramics and pebbles; free standing art works including a fabulous bronze crane taking flight; live koi carp; fountains; mirrors; totems and numerous artistic references such as the Monet bridge. It must be admitted that much of the garden is inaccessible to wheelchair-users. We arrived at Gardone by boat and squeezed into the waiting little 'kiddy train' that took us directly to the gardens for three Euros return. This was to save time as we weren't sure where they were. It's actually not terribly far (10 minute walk back but down hill - we didn't wait for the train.) Incidentally said train was full - of adults!At 10 euros the gardens aren't cheap but I loved and will never forget them. We were there approx two hours. Then we enjoyed mixed fried fish and salad down at a lakeside eaterie. Perfect.I also appreciated the sign at the start asking people to respect the peace of the garden.

Not what you would expect in a botanical garden. There are many trees and shrubs set on a hillside accessed by narrow paths. The specimens are not generally named. Pieces of sculpture are located throughout the garden. Very different, very intriguing.

This is a garden unlike any other. Started in the early 20th century, it is now owned and run by the artist Andre Heller. It is almost a maze of plants, trees, bushes, water features, artist installations, many influenced by Tibet, all designed with a sense of humour - like the sculpted heads on poles framing a bridge crossing a spring, which fire water at each other at intervals, so you have to time your crossing perfectly! It is wonderfully peaceful as you wander through the intercrossing paths, some of which too are inlaid with Gaudi-esque coloured tiles. Even the toilet within the garden is specially designed. I'm not really one for visiting gardens, and the visit was more to please my partner...but I'm so glad I went, it was quite inspirational. So this is a garden for those who don't like visiting gardens...

Loved these garden, peaceful, jam packed with plants and flowers and with a 5 min walking distance from the Grand Hotel (or ferry stop).

Fabulous small botanic garden. Modern sculptures amplify and enhance the botanical forms. Lush quirky exotic. If you think botanic gardens are not your thing - try this.

The Heller Garden is an essentially woodland garden with an eastern bias set on a fairly steep slope above, but not overlooking, Lake Garda. It has many small paths in and out, up and down around a number of small carp-filled ponds. There are many surprises in store as you head around the next bend - all of an artistic nature and with tiling reminding one of Gaudi. It is a lovely oasis of cool on a very hot day. The visit will take about one hour. There are toilets half way up on the left. It is entirely unsuited to wheelchairs and all but the smallest of childrens' pushchairs. At 10 euros it's certainly not underpriced.

Very nicely laid out, although not really suitable for people with limited mobility or pushchairs. Good variety of plants and very well thought out. Liked the art work, not sure if it's a changing exhibition, added interest. It was a bit pricey but there isn't a great deal to do in Gardone so I would recommend a visit. Our 9 year old said it was her favorite place that we visited.

Excellent garden with different settings, e.g. jungle. Dolomites, interspersed with interesting sculptures

Worth visiting, if you like plant identification, a well labelled map to follow, also some interesting sculptures and modern mosaics. We all enjoyed it, quite steep paths, but with many seats, appeared small when we arrived, but a but much larger when you start exploring. Enjoyed the boat trip from Desenzano to get there, it took about 2 hours, and cost €9, but was like having a tour of the lake. We traveled down one side of the lake on the way there, and the other on the way back, but that was accidental. You need to leave by about 4 if you are returning by boat, as the do not run late into the evening.