To the east of Altenburg Castle stretches the Castle Garden, a park with a long tradition of horticultural art. Duke Johann of Saxony (1570 - 1605) had already had a generously proportioned garden created in the Renaissance style at the end of the 16th century.
Both domestic and foreign plants were used for the plantings. In addition to water features and a maze, a kitchen garden was also integrated into the complex.
The park was the setting for splendid festivities and other events of courtly ceremonial. After a period of decay, Duke Friedrich II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1676 - 1732) took on the task of redesigning the park. An existing ballroom was converted into the Castle Garden Theater. A "new pleasure house" with a light-flooded garden hall, today's tea house with orangery, replaced a previous building and the Seville orange houses. The orangery included citrus trees, but also coffee and laurel plants.
In the late 18th century, the transformation into a landscape park began, initially with the creation of irregularly shaped paths and asymmetrical areas.
Groups of trees and shrubs replaced the architecturally designed garden compartments. At the edge of the park, buildings such as the Lindenau Museum, known for its collection of early Italian panel painting, the Natural History Museum and the Duchess Agnes Memorial Church were added in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, it is above all the rich historical tree population in interaction with the buildings of different epochs that makes Altenburg Castle Garden so attractive.
Guided tours
Geöffnet
Parking
Restroom
Altenburg Castle Park
Schloss- und Spielkartenmuseum
Schloss 2
04600 Altenburg
Phone: +49 / 34 47 / 51 27 12
Fax: +49 / 34 47 / 51 27 33