How many trees do you think were donated to rebuild the Großer Tiergarten after World War II? Let me tell you a story about this beautiful Berlin park. Right before you stands the Großer Tiergarten a sprawling green space in the heart of Berlin. It’s more than just a park. It’s a living testament to Berlin’s resilient history.
Originally a royal hunting ground established in the 16th century the Großer Tiergarten has seen centuries of transformation. It started as an enclosed hunting reserve for the Brandenburg electors. They stocked it with wild animals. They kept these animals from escaping into nearby fields. This hunting area gradually shrank as Berlin grew.
Under Frederick I the Großer Tiergarten began its metamorphosis into a pleasure park. A wide avenue was cut through it linking the city palace to Schloss Charlottenburg. The Große Stern a star-shaped intersection of avenues was created. This marked the start of its transformation from a hunting ground to a place for relaxation.
Frederick the Great had little interest in hunting. He ordered the fences removed. He transformed the Großer Tiergarten into a public park. The baroque style was reflected in geometric flowerbeds and sculpted hedges. Water features and sculptures were added too. Small sheltered areas called salons were created providing rest and shade for visitors. This is where two refugee families were allowed to sell refreshments. The street name In den Zelten still reminds us of them.
Peter Joseph Lenné later redesigned the Großer Tiergarten in the 19th century. He created a landscape park in the English style. This park featured wide lawns and tree groupings. Water features with small islands were included. There were also many bridges like the Löwenbrücke. Lenné’s design included both baroque elements and natural landscapes. Statues and monuments were added including memorials for Queen Luise and King Friedrich Wilhelm III.
World War II severely damaged the Großer Tiergarten. After the war the park suffered further from lack of fuel leading to trees being used for heating. Parts of it were even used to grow potatoes and vegetables. About 2550 plots were created. Instead of about 200000 trees only about 700 remained. The water was muddy. All the bridges were destroyed. Monuments were damaged or overthrown.
The city’s government decided to rebuild the Großer Tiergarten in 1945. The reconstruction was massive. West German cities took on sponsorships. A total of 250000 donated saplings arrived in Berlin many by airlift during the Berlin Blockade. The reconstruction project aimed to create a calm and spacious park. The first tree a linden tree was planted in 1949 by the Berlin mayor. In the end the park was restored. However the baroque features were considered outdated and were largely abandoned.
The Großer Tiergarten’s restoration reflects Berlin’s spirit. It shows the city’s recovery from devastating events. It is a peaceful retreat in the middle of a busy city. It has seen so much history. It is well worth a visit. Remember those 250000 donated trees next time you stroll through the Großer Tiergarten.