Güntz Park

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The Güntz-Park is a park of around three hectares in the south-east of Leipzig between Güntzstrasse and Schönbachstrasse. According to the municipal structure of 1992, the park belongs to the Stötteritz district , but is located on the former Thonberger corridor. That is why another name is Thonberg Park.

In 1839 Eduard Wilhelm Güntz built a private “ insane relief and care institution ” in the then still independent Thonberg outside the gates of Leipzig . Since the facility was intended for the better-off sections of society, he surrounded it with a park. In addition to walking paths with resting places between deciduous and coniferous trees, there were also two small ponds, a deer enclosure and a hill with a good all-round view of the Leipzig area. Swings, bowling alley, gymnastics area and a shooting range for bird and target shooting completed the facility, which was surrounded by a three-meter-high plank to prevent escape attempts.

The institution remained in the Güntzschem family until 1888, when it took over the Johannishospital , which it operated until 1920. After that, the buildings were used for other purposes and the park opened to the public.

Today the park is a meadow with sparse hardwood. The former facilities have disappeared except for the viewing hill, which, however, no longer serves this purpose due to the surrounding buildings. There are benches and a children's playground, which was renovated in 2010. On a tower, also called Güntz Tower, which was built over one of the institute's own water supply wells, there is a relief that shows the founder of the institute with his wife. A memorial stone with the inscription “Out of gratitude, May 3, 1886” commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the first Güntz Institute.

  • The mental health and care institution with park 1861

  • The park today

  • The Güntz Tower

  • Relief on the Güntz tower

  • Memorial stone from 1886

literature

  • Eduard Wilhelm Güntz: The Thonberg Irren-Heil- und Pflege-Anstalt in the first quarter of a century of its effectiveness , Leipzig 1861: Philipp Reclam jun. ( online )

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Website of the City of Leipzig , accessed on January 11, 2014.

Coordinates: 51 ° 19 ′ 15.9 ″  N , 12 ° 24 ′ 42.2 ″  E