The creation of the Hofgarten, which originally lay outside the moat that surrounded the Residenz Palace, began in 1613 and was completed in 1617. At the same time, Duke Maximilian I was adding many new buildings to the palace complex. The garden has a formally laid out around two central footpaths that intersect at the Temple of Diana at center of the garden.
Since its early days, the garden has been redesigned a number of times. When tastes or trends changed, so did the Hofgarten. After the devastation of the Second World War, landscape architects recreated the garden so that flower beds were once again typical of those found in the early 17th century. The original waterworks were also restored, providing the fountains with plenty of water.