Garden Paradises Thuringia
Experience the diversity of our parks and gardens
Outstanding works of garden art can be discovered in Thuringia. Important garden artists such as the members of the Sckell family, Hermann Prince von Pückler-Muskau and Eduard Petzold left traces of their artistic work here. The time span ranges from the Renaissance – for example in the palace garden of Wilhelmsburg Palace in Schmalkalden – to Baroque designs – for example in the orangery of Friedenstein Palace, the orangery parterre of Schwarzburg Palace or in Molsdorf Palace Park – right up to the 19th century. The transition to the landscape park can be clearly seen in Molsdorf. Such parks have been impressively preserved in Gotha Ducal Park, Greiz Princely Park and the largest park in Thuringia, Altenstein Palace Park in Bad Liebenstein.
Gardens and parks are part of the courtly heritage of residential culture. In the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, interest in garden art and botany also grew among the commoners. The garden at Kirms-Krackow House illustrates this development. From 1750, a private paradise was created here with rich floral decorations and a wide variety of fruit varieties.
Garden Paradises –
Paradise Gardens
Paradise Gardens
The Thuringian Palaces and Gardens Foundation preserves, maintains and communicates this green cultural treasure. Gardens are living works of art – and that is why we want to give you as vivid an impression as possible. Marvel at the highlights of historical garden art such as the carpet bed in Altenstein Palace Park and rare trees from 1810 such as the tulip tree, sycamore maple and English oak in Greiz Princely Park. Find out how much skill and effort goes into growing and caring for exotic plants such as citrus plants, agaves, camellias and pineapples in the Ducal Orangery Gotha – and what a tradition they have there. See Pückler’s columnar oaks in Wilhelmsthal Palace Park or take a tour of the Fürstlich Greizer Park and go on a journey around the world to see exotic plants such as the American red oak, the oriental spruce, a Chinese ornamental quince, an American bald cypress or Japanese clove cherries. Discover the expertise with which our gardeners cultivate trees and shrubs. Maintaining and preserving garden monuments is a special challenge. This is especially true against the backdrop of climate change. Interventions, replanting and rejuvenation are necessary. Find out how our garden monument conservators are intensively researching solutions.
The best way to explore the gardens and parks is on foot! We look forward to welcoming you soon to Altenstein Castle Park, Gotha Ducal Park, Dornburg Castle Gardens or one of our other parks!
