Schönbusch Park is one of the earliest landscape gardens in Germany. From 1775 the Archbishop of Mainz, Friedrich Carl von Erthal, had his deer park redesigned in the English landscape style. The first built structure in the garden, designed by architect Emanuel Joseph von Herigoyen, was the Electoral Pavilion. It was built between 1778 and 1782 as a little neo-classical summer residence with exquisite Louis Seize furnishings and is known today as "Schönbusch Palace".

Schönbusch Park was completed in 1790 by garden architect Friedrich Ludwig Sckell. Architectural features such as an observation tower, the Red Bridge, the Temple of Friendship and the Philosopher's House, a tiny village and shepherds' cottages are arranged in charming settings with artificial lakes and "hills".

In the park visitor centre (former kitchen building) the exhibition "Everything appears natural, so well concealed is the design" informs about the history and development of the park.