Meßdorfer Feld

Hidden within Bonn lies a sprawling expanse known as the Meßdorfer Feld. It’s the largest open space within the city limits, a hidden gem nestled between the villages of Dransdorf, Messdorf, Duisdorf, and Endenich. The Meßdorfer Feld isn’t an ancient name passed down through generations. It’s a relatively modern designation, born from the growth of the surrounding villages. As these villages expanded, they gradually encroached upon the agricultural land that separated them, leaving only this large field. Thus, the Meßdorfer Feld came to be. This vast area, approximately 150 to 170 hectares, is crisscrossed by paths and the tracks of the Voreifelbahn railway. Two bridges, the “Black Bridge” and the “White Bridge,” span the railway lines. The Black Bridge earned its name from the steam locomotives of the 1880s. The heavy steam and soot from the trains, struggling uphill towards the bridge, stained its structure black. The White Bridge was named simply to distinguish it from its darker counterpart. The Meßdorfer Feld has a rich history. Roman shards discovered in 1958 along the nearby Steinweg road suggest Roman activity in the area. The very name Steinweg indicates a Roman road that once traversed the field. The area has been used for agriculture since the Middle Ages. Today, the Meßdorfer Feld continues to serve as farmland, producing wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, vegetables, strawberries, and beets. But it’s not just an agricultural area. Patches of trees and shrubs dot the landscape. The paths that crisscross the field offer opportunities for recreation and relaxation. The field is also an important natural area. It is home to the sand lizard, a protected species under the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive. A 1990 study by the German Weather Service highlighted the Meßdorfer Feld’s crucial role in Bonn’s climate, channeling cooler air from the surrounding hills into the city. At the northern edge of the field, you’ll find the University of Bonn’s astronomical institute and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. These institutions were established here due to the previously sparse development and the resulting clear views of the sky. The future of the Meßdorfer Feld has been a subject of debate for years. While development plans have been proposed and some construction has occurred on the southern edge, the majority of the area is now protected from development. A 2005 city council decision designated most of the Meßdorfer Feld as exclusively agricultural land, ensuring its preservation as a “fresh air corridor” for Bonn. This area continues to evolve, integrating environmental projects. New hedges have been planted, and the Meßdorfer Feld has become part of the larger “Green C” project. This initiative aims to connect and enhance the cultural landscape across city boundaries. One example is the “Brushstrokes” project. This collaborative effort between the City of Bonn and the Chamber of Agriculture transformed an 8,000 square meter section of the field into a vibrant tapestry of flowers. The design evokes the brushstrokes of the expressionist painters August Macke and Hans Thuar, who captured the beauty of the Meßdorfer Feld in their early 20th-century paintings.