Perhaps surprisingly, the Schlosspark Buch has seen empires rise and fall. It has adapted to the changing whims of nobility and the common good. Today, we explore its story.
Welcome to the Schlosspark Buch. This park is a green oasis with a rich history dating back to the 17th century. It is located in the Berlin district of Buch. Schlosspark Buch has served many purposes. It started as a private garden. Now, it is a public space for recreation and nature.
Our journey begins in 1607. A castle with a park was erected here. Around 1670, Freiherr Gerhard Bernhard von Pölnitz acquired the property. He transformed it into a Dutch baroque garden. Canals were constructed for fish farming. Pölnitz’s vision shaped the park’s early character. In 1679, Freiherr von Pölnitz passed away.
Adam Otto von Viereck purchased Schlosspark Buch in 1724. He expanded it further. An orangery was built. The park gained a nursery, an pineapple house, a pheasantry, and a maze. Architect Friedrich Wilhelm Diterichs remodeled the castle. Terraces and a fountain adorned its front.
The next transformation occurred between 1810 and 1820. The von Voss family acquired Schlosspark Buch. They converted it into an English landscape park. Adjacent meadows and woodlands were added. A pond was created. Artificial hills were built. Several wooden bridges crossed the Panke. Julie von Voss’s relationship with Friedrich Wilhelm II brought notoriety to the park. She was his morganatic wife. Julie was buried in the Schlosspark Buch’s church.
In 1898, the city of Berlin acquired the estate. Schlosspark Buch opened to the public in 1906. Metal structures replaced some Panke bridges. One bridge is Berlin’s smallest at just over two meters.
Extensive restoration works occurred between 1955 and 1957. Folkwin Wendland planned them. A memorial stone for Julie von Voss stood until 1960. The orangery was demolished in 1955. In 1964, the castle was politically motivated to be destroyed. Both had survived World War II undamaged. A rose garden replaced them. Carl Blümel’s sculpture Mitwelt has stood there since 1987.
The Panke River flows through a small pond in the park. The Soviet War Memorial is located on Wiltbergstrasse. Schlosspark Buch underwent restoration from November 2013 to spring 2014. Historical paths and waterways were restored. The entrance area on Alt-Buch street was renovated. The three gates and enclosure with walls and ornamental grilles were restored. The square was renovated on the street side. The historical enclosure with clinker base and ornamental grilles was restored at the Wiltbergstrasse entrance. A simple stick fence replaced the former wire mesh fence. The last unenclosed section was added.
Further park paths were repaired in the second construction phase beginning in September 2017. The former observation hill on the wedding path was redesigned. Approximately 300,000 euros were available. The parterre at the former orangery was redesigned in the third construction phase beginning in 2018/2019. The Dutch garden was partially restored. New park benches and trash cans were installed. Approximately 380,000 euros were available for this purpose.
The park’s flora is unique. Plantings include nodding star-of-Bethlehem, Siberian squill, and fragrant Solomon’s seal. The woodland star-of-Bethlehem blooms in February and March. Old English oaks, lindens, and beeches populate the park. The great oak beetle and hermit beetle inhabit the trees. This led to the Schlosspark Buch’s designation as a Natura 2000 area.
Schlosspark Buch is more than just a park. It is a living testament to Berlin’s evolving story. Its blend of history, nature, and art makes it a unique and valuable space. Take a moment to appreciate the park’s serene atmosphere. Consider the countless stories held within its borders. As you leave, carry with you a piece of its enduring charm.