Blog Archives

Spreepark – Plänterwald, Berlin

Der Spreepark im Berlin Plänterwald war ein Vergnügungspark und wurde im Jahr 1969 eröffnet. Eine der besonderen Attraktionen war das Riesenrad, das noch 1989 erneuert wurde und mit 36 Gondeln 45 Meter in die Höhe ragt. Viele Jahre war es das Wahrzeichen der umliegenden Gegend.

Nach der Wende übernahm die Spreepark Berlin GmbH den Betrieb und errichtete neue Attraktionen und es wurde eine Besucherzahl von 1,5 Millionen Menschen erreicht. Seit 1999 hatte der Park mit großen Schulden zu kämpfen. Der gestiegene pauschale Eintrittspreis und fehlende Parkplätze waren unter anderem Ursachen für den Besuchereinbruch. In der Saison 2001 kamen nur noch 400.000 Besucher. Im selben Jahr meldete die Spreepark GmbH & Co. KG Insolvenz an.

Seit dem Jahr 2002 wurde der Park nicht mehr für Besucher geöffnet. Im August 2002 wurde er im Rahmen eines Insolvenzverfahrens abgewickelt. Es blieben Schulden in Höhe von 11 Millionen Euro übrig. Seitdem verwahrlost das Gelände zusehends und viele Gebäude sind einsturzgefährdet.

Rosenhöhe, Darmstadt

Schloss Wolfsgarten, Langen (Hesse)

Schloss Wolfsgarten was a former hunting lodge of the ruling family of Hesse-Darmstadt and was established between 1722 and 1724 by Landgrave Ernst Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt. From 1879, Wolfsgarten became a favorite country retreat for Grand Dukes Ludwig IV and his son Ernst Ludwig.

In the 20th century, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig extensively modernised Schloss Wolfsgarten and rearranged the park. In 1918, after the abolition of the monarchy, Wolfsgarten became the principal residence of the former grand ducal family. Today, the Wolfsgarten is the property of the Hessian House Foundation and is open to the public only on two weekends in May during the annual Rhododendrenblüte.

Potsdam – New Palace (Neues Palais)

The New Palace is situated on the western side of the Sanssouci royal park in Potsdam was build by Frederick the Great. The construction of the palace started 1763 and was finished after six years, 1769. It is considered to be the last great Prussian baroque palace.

Potsdam – Orangery Palace

The Orangery Palace (Orangerieschloss) is also known as the New Orangery on the Klausberg, or just the Orangery. It was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance, after the image of the Villa Medici in Rome and the Uffizi in Florence.

Potsdam – Park Sanssouci

Sanssouci Park is a large park surrounding Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany. Following the terracing of the vineyard and the completion of the palace, the surrounding is a baroque flower garden with lawns, flower beds, hedges and trees. The greenhouses of the numerous nurseries contained oranges, melons, peaches and bananas.

The park has a 2.5 km long straight main avenue and begins in the east at the 1748 obelisk and over the years was extended all the way to the New Palace, which marks its end in the west.

Potsdam – Church of Peace (Friedenskirche)

The Friedenskirch (Church of Peace) is a protestant church and is situated in the palace grounds of Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, Germany. The cornerstone of the churchhouse was laid on April 14, 1845 and the structure resembles a High Italian monastery. A narthex across the western side of the portal opens into an inner courtyard (atrium), in the middle of the courtyard the larger-than-life statue of Christ on the fountain is a copy of the marble original and an arcade surrounds the inner courtyard. Parallel to the southern arcade runs the cloister with the Heilsbronn Porch, an entrance to the Marly Gardens. The Heilsbronn Porch is a replica of a Roman tiered porch at the former refectory in the Heilsbronn Cloister in Middle Franconia.

Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire

Crathes Castle is a 16th century castle near Banchory in Aberdeenshire and served as the ancestral seat of the Burnetts of Leys until gifted to the National Trust for Scotland (1951). In the year 1323, the land was given as a gift to the Burnett of Leys family by King Robert the Bruce. The construction of the current tower house was begun in 1553 and finished 1596 by Alexander Burnett of Leys.

University of Glasgow and Kelvingrove Park

The University was founded in 1451 and is located on Gilmorehill in the West End of the city. Most of the buildings are designed in the Gothic revival style.

Botanic Garden, Aberdeen

The Cruickshank Botanic Garden is situated near the University of Aberdeen in Old Aberdeen. It built on land bequested by Miss Anne Cruickshank to commemorate her brother Dr. Alexander Cruickshank.

Up