Did you know that Britzer Garten was almost a highway? In 1985 plans existed to extend the Berlin city highway right through the park. The Britzer Garten a vast expanse of 90 hectares was created for the 1985 Federal Horticultural Show. This beautiful park was intended to be a much-needed green space for West Berliners. This area in the southeast of the city was previously isolated. The park was meant to provide some solace.
Britzer Garten offers a stunning array of attractions. There’s the Kalenderplatz with Europe’s largest sundial. It’s a spectacular sight. There’s also a solar system walkway. This walkway measures a massive 99 meters in diameter. The Britzer Garten even boasts a museum railway. The Britzer Museumsbahn runs on a narrow-gauge track. Some of the engines and carriages are replicas of historical models.
Imagine strolling through the rose garden with its 12000 square meters of blooms. You’ll see a wide variety of roses including rare historic ones. You might also want to visit the Karl-Foerster-Perennial Garden. Here you can find around 35 different varieties of perennials such as delphiniums and lilies. The clever planting ensures long blooming seasons.
The Britzer Garten is more than just flowers. It’s a carefully crafted landscape. There are lakes hills and playgrounds. It’s home to a multitude of plants and animals. You’ll find everything from swans and geese to carp catfish and rudd. Even sheep and goats graze in the park. They help to maintain the landscape. There are even some endangered Thuringian Forest goats. The park also houses Esels.
The Britzer Garten’s history stretches back further. The land was considered for a flight field in the late 1920s and early 1930s. This flight field was planned to serve the German Aviation Research Institute. The site in Johannistal Adlershof ultimately won out. Britzer Garten therefore avoided this fate. The park as we see it today opened on July 8 1989. It’s a testament to the power of urban planning. This power is used to create a peaceful retreat within the city.
So explore Britzer Garten. Discover its history its beauty and its many surprises. Remember the almost-highway. Remember the historical railway. This is a truly remarkable place.