Perhaps you have heard of the Schillerhaus in Leipzig, but have you heard of the Schillerhain? Many Leipzigers don’t know this park. Even some Gohlisers living nearby have never heard of it.
The Schillerhain is a small park in Leipzig’s Gohlis district. It features a playground. The Schillerhain is under historical preservation. It is located on the northern edge of the Rosental.
The Schillerhain is bordered by Platner-, Stallbaum- and Weinligstraße. The Parthe River separates it from the Rosental. The Schillerhain covers 1.48 hectares.
Until the early 20th century, a branch of the Parthe River formed a small island. The Gohlis mill was operated on this branch. One of the three river baths designated in the bathing regulations of 1784 was also on this island. By 1902, the river bath had disappeared from the city map. The greater part of the island showed park-like paths and a playground.
From 1904, the area was redesigned as a garden. It was called “Gartenanlage am Gohliser Wehr”. This happened with a view to the growing residential development to the north and west. Friedrich Schiller’s death 100 years before was the reason for the name. He stayed in Gohlis in the summer of 1785. The park was named Schillerhain on May 7, 1905. A celebration and the planting of a Schillerlinde took place.
Until it was filled in, the arm of the Parthe ran along the northwest edge of the Schillerhain. In 1910, two sandstone figures were erected in the Schillerhain. The Leipzig sculptor Hermann Knaur created them for the New Theater in Leipzig. As Thalia and Melpomene, the muses of comedy and tragedy, they stood at the theater entrance. This was from the opening in 1868 until 1887. They were then stored on the construction site. It is not known how long they stood in the Schillerhain. It is also not known how they disappeared.
The Schillerhain was redesigned in the early 1950s. A playground was added. Around the same time, the Schillerlinde vanished from city maps. To mark the 200th anniversary of Schiller’s death, the Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium donated a new Schillerlinde. This was part of the “Eine baumstarke Stadt” campaign. A bench surrounds it.
After another redesign in 1989, the playground was completely redesigned in 2023. The Schillerhain is a meadow with many trees of different ages. There are several types of linden trees, hornbeams, field maples, robinias and horse chestnuts. A red oak with a trunk diameter of one meter and a far-reaching crown stands out. Its foliage is captivating in autumn. Shrubbery is scarce. Flowers are completely absent. Benches line the four paths running through the park.
The playground with a fountain and a large climbing frame is in the southeast corner. The water, pumped with a swing pump, offers many play opportunities. The Schillersteg leads from the south side of the park across the Parthe into the Rosental.
Since renovations in summer 2023, the Schillerhain playground attracts families. A highlight is the mud play area with water pump. A restored fountain from the 1950s is also featured. Play sculptures made of concrete attract visually impaired children. They are two ducks with a direct connection to the Parthe. Older children can enjoy adventurous climbing. There are also table tennis tables. A shady beech tree provides cooling while playing.
Special seating options invite visitors to linger. These include a circular bench around the Schillerlinde. The Schillerlinde is not the historic tree planted in the 19th century. It is its successor, planted 15 years ago. A visit to the Schillerhain playground can be combined with a trip to the nearby Schiller House. You could also visit Gohlis Castle or Wobble tower in the Rosental.