Old Botanical Garden, Kiel
Schleswig-Holstein
The Old Botanical Garden in Kiel is a historic 2.5-hectare park and former botanical garden located near the Kiel Fjord. Originally established in 1825 as a private English landscape garden by tobacco manufacturer Abraham Christian Brauer, it was transformed between 1878 and 1884 by botanist Adolf Engler into the world's first botanical garden arranged by plant geography. The garden preserves a diverse collection of over 280 plant species, including some of the oldest and largest ginkgo trees in Schleswig-Holstein and rare specimens of Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Amur cork tree, and coastal redwoods. Its gently hilly terrain is threaded by winding paths, two ponds, and perennial flower beds that burst into color in spring. Architectural highlights include an octagonal brick pavilion with an iron-mesh dome built in 1891, offering panoramic views of the garden and fjord, and the former garden inspector's cottage, now the Literature House of Schleswig-Holstein. The garden is a designated natural and cultural monument, open year-round free of charge, and hosts literary events and art installations, making it a unique blend of natural beauty, botanical heritage, and cultural activity.
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Consejo: Visit in spring to enjoy the spectacular bloom of bulbs and perennials. The garden is open daily without charge, and guided tours are available to enrich your experience. Booking tickets is unnecessary, but joining a public tour can provide deeper insight. The garden is easily accessible from Kiel city center and is near other attractions like the Kunsthalle and university clinics. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended due to the hilly terrain and winding paths.
Datos interesantes
- •The garden is home to one of the largest ginkgo trees in Schleswig-Holstein.
- •It contains two Metasequoia glyptostroboides specimens believed to be the oldest on the European mainland, planted circa 1948 from Arnold Arboretum seeds.
- •The octagonal pavilion built in 1891 features a graceful iron-mesh dome and offers panoramic views over the Kiel Fjord.
- •The former garden inspector's cottage now houses the Literature House of Schleswig-Holstein, hosting regular literary readings.
- •The garden was the first in the world designed purely on plant geographical principles by Adolf Engler between 1878 and 1884.
Historia
Kiel's botanical tradition dates back to 1668 with the establishment of a horticus medicus by Johann Daniel Major.
The current Old Botanical Garden began as a private park in 1825 and was acquired by the University of Kiel after 1868.
Between 1878 and 1884, Adolf Engler redesigned it as the first botanical garden based solely on plant geography.
The garden became a public park in 1980 after the university relocated its botanical collections.
Since then, it has been preserved as a natural and cultural monument, with restorations of its pavilion and buildings completed by the 1990s.
Guía del lugar
Octagonal Pavilion1891
Built in 1891, this brick pavilion with an iron-mesh dome sits atop the highest hill in the garden, providing panoramic views of the garden landscape and the Kiel Fjord. It also hosts a permanent exhibition on the history of Kiel's botanical gardens.
Literature House of Schleswig-Holstein1906
Housed in the former garden inspector's cottage built in 1906 in half-timbered style, this venue hosts regular literary readings and cultural events, linking the garden's botanical heritage with the arts.
Topfhaus (Potting House)1884/85
Constructed in 1884/85 alongside the Botanical Institute, this brick building once served as a greenhouse and gardener's quarters. Recently restored, it is now available for rental and serves as a monument to Schleswig-Holstein's botanical history.
Rare Tree Collection
The garden contains a remarkable collection of mature trees including a significant ginkgo, Amur cork tree, Japanese ornamental cherries, magnolias, rhododendrons, and some of the tallest swamp cypresses and coastal redwoods in the area.
Contacto
Teléfono: 0431 568286
