GARDEN REALM OF DESSAU-WÖRLITZ

UNESCO World Heritage – a dream has been created

As an incomparable cultural landscape, the Garden Realm of Dessau-Wörlitz stands for the harmony of nature, architecture and visual arts. It includes castles, churches and parks as well as bridges, temples, canals or grottoes. It was conceived by Prince Leopold III Friedrich Franz von Anhalt-Dessau (1740–1817) and his friend, the architect Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff (1736–1800).

Inspired by a trip to England, the young men made Wörlitz the beginning of a modern landscape design that was completely unknown on the European mainland. The floodplains of the Elbe and Mulde offered ideal conditions for new landscape gardens – and older gardens were also subtly included. In his 59-year reign, the prince succeeded with tolerant policies and enlightened reforms in a country beautification program that is second to none.
Centrally located in central Germany, the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz stretches over 142 square kilometres between the Bauhaus city of Dessau and Lutherstadt Wittenberg. The castles and gardens in Wörlitz, Oranienbaum and Dessau as well as the Sieglitz Forest Park, but also numerous churches, wallach houses and ruins have lost none of their fascination to this day.

In 2000, the Garden Realm of Dessau-Wörlitz was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Not only special buildings or varied gardens were honored, but rather a unique idea. For the UNESCO Commission, the Garden Realm is “an outstanding example of the implementation of philosophical principles of the Enlightenment in a landscape design that harmoniously combines art, education and economy”.
Discover this incomparable cultural landscape!

Continue reading

Nature, Art, Beauty

Visit the gardens and parks

Tips for your visit

At a glance

The entire UNESCO World Heritage Garden Realm of Dessau-Wörlitz is around 142 hectares in size. Our map offers you a compact representation of the numerous sights, the most beautiful cycle paths as well as gastronomic facilities and accommodation. This allows you to plan your visit easily and individually – and never lose track of everything.

Pedaling

Not only the popular routes of the Elbe River Cycle Route and European Cycle Route R1 lead through the region – the Gartenreichtour (Garden Realm Tour) “Fürst Franz” leads you from highlight to highlight through the Garden Realm! Cycling maps are available in our shop – or request online here.