Paul Smit  Mick Palarczyk | Features, Photos and TextTwo faces, one philosophy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
by region |
touristical subjects |
general subjects |
flowers & gardens |
FEATURE (Category: Europe | Germany | summer | scenic drives | cultural-historical | gardens)
Germany: Gardens and Castles in the East
Germany: Gardens and Castles in the East
Much longer than other European countries Germany consisted of feudal states in varying sizes. It took until 1871 for this situation to change, when Bismark molded the territories into one unified nation. For us, travellers, the caleidoscopic map of former countships, duchies and kingdoms is a treasor trove of castles, palaces and country houses, parks and gardens. Because no monarch or duke, however small, had deemed his power complete without these status symbols.
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247724_2vgEj-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 11]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247731_Pzi7b-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 11]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 12]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Gardener working in the terraced vineyard of the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. Behind the glass doors you can recognize figs.This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247742_NAZG6-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 12]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Gardener working in the terraced vineyard of the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. Behind the glass doors you can recognize figs.This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 13]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Schoolgirls in the terraced vineyard garden of the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247753_WSc4g-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 13]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Schoolgirls in the terraced vineyard garden of the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 14]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Fountain at the base of the stairs climbing the terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. In the evening, when most of the tourists have left, the park seems to dream towards the night, a vision of the world as the Prussian kings imaged it in their romantic fantasies. Sans souci - an illusion that became reality in Potsdam.
The terraced garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. It has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247759_AYbfE-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 14]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Fountain at the base of the stairs climbing the terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. In the evening, when most of the tourists have left, the park seems to dream towards the night, a vision of the world as the Prussian kings imaged it in their romantic fantasies. Sans souci - an illusion that became reality in Potsdam.
The terraced garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. It has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 15]
'Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Beauty is not always with the famous palaces or well known garden views. This is just a far off corner of the Sanssouci Park, where hardly a tourist comes, part of the more than 500 ha Potsdam and Berlin Parks and Palaces UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247826_xT6Y4-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 15]
'Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Beauty is not always with the famous palaces or well known garden views. This is just a far off corner of the Sanssouci Park, where hardly a tourist comes, part of the more than 500 ha Potsdam and Berlin Parks and Palaces UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 16]
'Chinese tea pavilion, Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
The Prussian kings imported the whole world to Potsdam by copying it. This Chinese tea pavilion was constructed in the baroque Sanssouci Park. China was fashion in those days. English parks were sprinkled with Italian villas some time later. Antique temple ruins were raised on top of a hill - brand new! For powering the fountains steam engines were constructed inside a Moorish mosque, the chimney hidden in the minaret. And a piece of Holland was erected in the middle of Potsdam. They really were mad about copying: not one of the fortyseven Raphaels in their Orangery Palace was real! Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247833_EDNJo-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 16]
'Chinese tea pavilion, Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
The Prussian kings imported the whole world to Potsdam by copying it. This Chinese tea pavilion was constructed in the baroque Sanssouci Park. China was fashion in those days. English parks were sprinkled with Italian villas some time later. Antique temple ruins were raised on top of a hill - brand new! For powering the fountains steam engines were constructed inside a Moorish mosque, the chimney hidden in the minaret. And a piece of Holland was erected in the middle of Potsdam. They really were mad about copying: not one of the fortyseven Raphaels in their Orangery Palace was real! Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 17]
'Wörlitz landscape park.'
Wörlitz is Germany's oldest English landscape park, stretching along a former branch of the Elbe and since 2000 on the list of World Heritage Sites. Where many parks want to impress, Wörlitz just is elegant. Even the palace, the first classicistic building of Germany, looks friendly.
The park shows the marks of both Enlightenment, a movement glorifying intellect, and Romanticism, stressing emotions. Goethe, who combined both elements in his own character, wrote: "I was truly moved when we silently floated across the lakes and canals. Here the gods have permitted a king to surround himself with a dream." Initially most German rulers weren't interested in these modernisms at all. But some fifty years later the situation had changed dramatically: every self-respecting monarch had his garden turned into an English landscape park. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247847_cwXJK-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 17]
'Wörlitz landscape park.'
Wörlitz is Germany's oldest English landscape park, stretching along a former branch of the Elbe and since 2000 on the list of World Heritage Sites. Where many parks want to impress, Wörlitz just is elegant. Even the palace, the first classicistic building of Germany, looks friendly.
The park shows the marks of both Enlightenment, a movement glorifying intellect, and Romanticism, stressing emotions. Goethe, who combined both elements in his own character, wrote: \"I was truly moved when we silently floated across the lakes and canals. Here the gods have permitted a king to surround himself with a dream.\" Initially most German rulers weren't interested in these modernisms at all. But some fifty years later the situation had changed dramatically: every self-respecting monarch had his garden turned into an English landscape park. Photo Paul Smit.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 18]
'Schlosspark Branitz.'
Among the park loving monarchs count Hermann Fürst von Pückler-Muskau definitely was the most colourful character. He enjoyed life, travelled a lot and got bitten by the landscape park bug when in England. He set himself the task of transforming his infertile estate around Bad Muskau into a park. This enormous undertaking costed so much money that he was forced to win the heart of rich women. But though he succeeded in winning their hearts, he never got their money. However, the letters he wrote about these affairs - that his wife published as a book! - became a bestseller, providing him with the money to finish the park. Well, almost - he went bankrupt when the end of the project was in sight.
With his wife he escaped to his last possession, a derilict mansion in Branitz near Cottbus. Famous architect Gottfried Semper, who was to renovate the house for them, stated that even Pückler's green hands would not be able to turn the sandy plains around the house into something worthwhile. But Semper was wrong, as Pückler, now 61 years old, repeated the miracle of Bad Muskau.
In his new park he is buried. Not his body, but his heart, which had beaten passionately for eighty-six years. He designed the final resting place for it himself: a surrealistic clay pyramid rising from one of the lakes. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247853_fDSjq-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 18]
'Schlosspark Branitz.'
Among the park loving monarchs count Hermann Fürst von Pückler-Muskau definitely was the most colourful character. He enjoyed life, travelled a lot and got bitten by the landscape park bug when in England. He set himself the task of transforming his infertile estate around Bad Muskau into a park. This enormous undertaking costed so much money that he was forced to win the heart of rich women. But though he succeeded in winning their hearts, he never got their money. However, the letters he wrote about these affairs - that his wife published as a book! - became a bestseller, providing him with the money to finish the park. Well, almost - he went bankrupt when the end of the project was in sight.
With his wife he escaped to his last possession, a derilict mansion in Branitz near Cottbus. Famous architect Gottfried Semper, who was to renovate the house for them, stated that even Pückler's green hands would not be able to turn the sandy plains around the house into something worthwhile. But Semper was wrong, as Pückler, now 61 years old, repeated the miracle of Bad Muskau.
In his new park he is buried. Not his body, but his heart, which had beaten passionately for eighty-six years. He designed the final resting place for it himself: a surrealistic clay pyramid rising from one of the lakes. Photo Paul Smit.")
[GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.
![> [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/139247724_2vgEj-S.jpg "> [GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.")
[GERMANY.BRANDENBURG 10]
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.
'Schloss and Park Sanssouci, Potsdam.'
Stairs climbing terraced vineyard garden towards the baroque Sanssouci palace, french for free of worries. This garden is the heart of the much larger, 290 ha Sanssouci Park, that itself is just the centerpiece of a whole chain of parks, gardens and palaces. Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great) and generations of Prussian kings after him had these parks constructed along the banks of the Havel, a river that widens into an idyllic lake every few kilometers. The park landscape starts at Werder and reaches, via Potsdam, deep into Berlin. In the past the Glienicker Bridge, famous for its exchange of spies, divided this area. Since the German unification you can enjoy it as a whole and it has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo Paul Smit.
filename: 11 |
All rights reserved. No permission for reproduction, including copying or saving of digital image files or text, is granted without prior written authorisation from the author.
