Lechenich Castle Park
The parks at Lechenich Palace are the smaller parks in terms of area of the three palace parks in the city of Erftstadt . The plant goes back to the end of the 19th century. Until today it has been enlarged to an area of approximately eight hectares . The park, which was formerly on the northeastern edge of what was then Lechenich , is now in the middle of the Erftstadt-Lechenich district.
history
Already in medieval times, Lechenich Castle, in its function as the residence of the Archbishops of Kurköln, offered its stately guests who stopped off there pleasant stays. This included not only exquisite catering, but also hunting in the surrounding meadows and alluvial forests and fishing in the still clear waters of the castle pond, which is fed by the Rotbach , surrounding the castle complex .
The medieval building was surrounded behind the fortifications of natural agrarian used landscapes. Designed gardens or parks did not emerge until after the Baroque period in the late 18th century. The city view of Merian (1646) shows the lock with a via a bridge to be achieved Vorwerk . The gate leading to the Vorwerk, the "Bungart Gate", was in the inner courtyard of the main castle. The area in front of the Vorwerk and the moat consisted of a large area with fruit trees, which was called Bungert or Bungart. It was also used as a horse paddock . It was an area that was later to be used to expand the castle park.
The park in the 19th century
In the 1820s, the castle owner at the time, Andreas Borlatti, had the immediate vicinity of the castle designed as a park. The lithograph by an unknown artist around 1833 (based on a model by Anton Wünsch) shows the immediate surroundings of the palace with the beginnings of an ornamental garden and a park landscape. The illustration documents the use of the old moat as a boat pond and shows, in addition to the lush vegetation surrounding the pond, a planted row of poplars on the right edge of the picture and, to the left of the round tower, a small islet with a pavilion .
According to Frank Kretschmar, “garden-like structures” can be found on the topographical map of the Prussian land survey from 1893 . The bridge connection to the old Vorwerk was planted and provided with paths, and a path ran in a north-westerly direction like today's lime tree avenue.
Further development
Baron Georg von Bleichröder , who acquired the Lechenich Castle and its lands in 1894, enlarged the existing park. With the end of the 19th century, the time for larger palace gardens and the time for building new palaces were over. Von Bleichröder followed the trend of the time and only branched off small parts of his property to expand the modest park area, which was then to enclose his property on one side.
Pond and southwestern terrain
Vegetation on the ditch embankment
Park at the pond
The ruins of the moated castle and its outbuildings were largely surrounded by tree gardens, pastures and kitchen gardens and should now become the core of his conception of a coherent garden. To do this, he had the wall between the outer bailey and the residential tower of the main castle laid down, emphasizing the "island location" of the castle ruins surrounded by moats , which he then integrated into a park that was about four hectares in size.
After the work had progressed, the area of the park south of the decaying main castle was designed with curved paths and meadows and already had tall trees. One of the paths led to a hill with a lookout point from which there was a view of the castle ruins surrounded by water. Another picturesque accent to the park landscape was created by a small island in the pond on which a pavilion had been built. The path along the pond turned to the palace gardening shop (an attribute of many stately gardens), the work area of which was shielded from the park by thick bushes . As part of the natural landscape, meadows and gardens were connected to the east of the castle moat, which were delimited by hedges from a path leading past it. Parapets and balustrades secured the courtyard area at the edge of the pond. The inner courtyard itself was separated from the southeastern part of the outdoor area by a two-winged gate, and a path connected to the northern part of the park, which led past a group of planted fir trees over an iron arched bridge into the area.
Lindenallee in an easterly direction
Park path
Hardwood and softwood
The northern park area bordered an avenue lined with linden trees . Further north, the park area was joined by horse paddocks and orchards . Between the avenue of lime trees and the castle there was a border of different bushes, which sealed off the park from the outside. Another bridge that is no longer in existence today, the successor to the bridge to the Vorwerk pictured at Merian, connected the main castle with the park. A line of sight from the elevation in front of the pond led the view freely to a large meadow area and to trees there intentionally standing alone. In the park in front of the northern moat, paths were laid out that, like in the southern part , wound in an arch between tall deciduous trees . In their course, the paths had several branches, which gave the viewer the choice of different routes on his walks and thus offered him varied impressions. Trees were grouped around a large meadow, planted like a choir in a semicircle.
Baron Bleichröder died in 1902. It is not known whether the design of the park at Bleichröder's death was as developed as it is in aerial photos from 1933 (Rheinisches Amt für Bodendenkmalpflege) or whether it was created later.
The historic park today
Thinning
Destruction by wood rot
Rotting tree stump
Change to public use
The growth of Lechenich after the Second World War moved the palace park to the center of the district through the emergence of new peripheral settlements. The increasing urbanization caused the city of Erftstadt to include public facilities and embellishments in the form of green areas in its urban planning.
In 1973 the city of Erftstadt signed a lease agreement with the owners at the time, the Barons von Schmidt-Elmendorff, which made it possible for citizens and visitors to use the park area.
The historic park, which is still privately owned, is fenced in and can be entered through wrought-iron gates that were previously permanently locked. The gate to Lindenallee still bears the initials “S” and “E” of the previous owner. The entrances are open with the exception of ten days a year.
This agreement transformed the former private road Lindenallee into a readily accepted passage from the park boundary on the northwestern Frenzenstrasse to the residential areas to the east on the edge of the park.
Trees
According to the land register 2009, 214 trees were recorded according to the owner. This stock includes both the trees on the avenue of lime trees and individual specimens such as an old head oak (a type of holm oak ) that is now rare and that stands on the edge of the pond. The floral biodiversity of the old park is primarily reflected in the many ivy-covered oaks , frequently represented Red - and hornbeam , various maple species such as field - mountain - and Norway maple , some ash trees , the white poplars and horse chestnuts . Also locust , Douglas fir and other conifers as few pine trees were counted. Existing exotic trees or bushes are not mentioned.
The old park, whose maintenance and maintenance costs are still borne by the owner, is inspected annually by experts from a corresponding company. Detectable damage is then removed and any necessary pruning or the removal of rotten branches is carried out.
Herb layer and meadow
In recent years, the herbaceous layer has been observable from the edge of the park to the center of the area. Some soft woods, especially the black elder , spread strongly from the park edges into the park interior. This shrubbery is joined by growing seedlings of different tree species and forms a dense shrubbery as undergrowth in many places. The herb layer of the forest soil consisting predominantly of ivy , the whole patch covering Buschwindröschen as the arum and the buttercup . Even the lesser celandine and the celandine , a poppy plant , are represented in the park.
A larger natural meadow in the northwestern area of the park developed into a diverse grass biotope . To be mentioned are: oats , bluegrass , meadow chervil , meadow fescue , meadow foxtail , ryegrass , single-flowered pearl grass and timothy grass .
Scot get also wild herbs, so thistle , plantain , nettle and dead-nettle , blackberries , Speedwell , a genus of plantain plants , Giersch , Gundermann , shepherd's purse , rear chervil , white clover , which is popular with children Burdock , Garlic mustard , cleavers , dandelion , sorrel , yarrow , plantain , cranesbill and chickweed . They all provide a habitat for numerous insects and help ensure that the population of native songbirds does not decrease any further.
Bird species
The counted in 2000 bird species that could be permanently or temporarily registered in the park, were blackbirds and thrushes, engaged in the types of Mistle Thrush , Song Thrush , Redwing and Fieldfare distinguished. There were finches like the Brambling , who also flat Fink called Linnet , Chaffinch , European Serin and the greenfinch . Also from the tits, the park area is estimated to have registered with some genera: so blue tit , great tit and long-tailed tit . The park visit treecreeper , Yellow Warbler , Spotted Flycatcher , Black Redstart and Kleiber .
- Nest boxes on different types of trees
In addition to these smaller species, such as starling , robin , swallow and sparrow , there are also larger ones. There are numerous mallards who feel at home in the castle pond; apart from the common magpies and crows , wood pigeons , ravens and green woodpeckers were also registered . Some birds that could still be found ten years ago, such as bullfinches , garden warblers , blackcaps and dunnock , have not been observed in recent years. The call of the cuckoo and the knocking of the small woodpecker can no longer be heard in the park . Also kestrel and long-eared owl could not be observed in recent years. The horticultural association, which hopes for the return of earlier bird species, took over the installation and cleaning of the nest boxes.
The historical complex still exists
The castle ruins in the south-east
Footfall station (historical park)
Crenellated tower
The historic park in front of the northern moat is only rudimentarily recognizable in its original size and layout. What have remained are the castle ruins surrounded by moats, the iron arched bridge over the moat and the wrought-iron entrance or exit gates on the west and east side of the lime tree avenue. The bridgehead on the north side of the park and a remnant of the fortifications on the round corner tower on the south side of the park are also reminiscent of the old days .
Two main paths branching off from Lindenallee run through the park as in the old complex with several changes of direction. A former footfall station has been preserved on the eastern edge of the park . The original function of a small tin tower that has also been preserved in the park is not known. Presumably Andres Borlatti had the round tower built as a guard house.
There is no longer a canal for the castle moats that were formerly connected to the Rotbach by inflow and outflow. The now standing water is heavily muddy, especially at its end, on the western Frenzenstrasse.
The new park
Reasons to expand the park
The public use (especially at festive events for various occasions) of the few meadows and clearings in the old castle park impaired the previously intact vegetation due to the resulting compaction of the soil and also had a negative effect on the fauna living in the ground area . The early frequent use of the park as a recreational area drove away those species such as the nightingale and wren that set up their nests in low growth plants or on the ground to breed . The multiple disregard of the usage regulations by some park visitors and the willful damage to the trees and shrubs caused considerable damage, so that the owners of the park at the time considered closing the park for a few years in order to allow nature to regenerate. However, these considerations were not followed up as an alternative presented itself. In agreement between the landowner and the authorities, an extension was planned and implemented to relieve the old castle park with a new park on the pastures adjacent to the north. The park, which was enlarged by several hectares, then comprised a total of 7.7 hectares of land. For the new area, the city of Erftstadt concluded a lease agreement with the then owners in 1992, which was independent of the old contract.
planting
General
The extended park extends between Lindenallee, Hildegardweg, the houses on Richardstrasse and those on Frenzenstrasse. The entrance gate is on Hildegardweg, and there is also access from Lindenallee to both park areas.
An "active group" of the local horticultural association began in 1992 with preparatory work on the area designated as the park area . The first ground work concerned the creation of paved paths and the planting of trees and bushes. In 1994 the association of "Friends and Patrons of the Lechenich Castle Park" was founded. In cooperation with the local horticultural association, he undertook a systematic modeling of the area, further planting of the area with various young trees and shrubs, as well as the setting up of benches and the maintenance of the facility. These first efforts were the basis for creating a landscape park as a recreational area for the citizens . The association was supported by the city administration and the workforce of members of the local federal government for the environment and nature conservation , as well as by the dedicated help of some school classes in the district. In several planting campaigns, a total of more than 5000 trees and bushes were planted, donated by business people, associations or citizens of Erftstadt. In 1998 the new park, which was created mainly through the initiatives of committed citizens, was opened to the public.
Tree species
In the new park were next to mostly native tree species such as red - Hain - and copper beech , yew , alder , common mountain ash , oak , ash , alder , maple , larch , Kaiser -, summer - and winter linden , white birch , hanging copper beech , medlar , sycamore , poplar , gold acacia and Speierling , elms the type field - and elm and walnut planted.
Foreign trees such as sweetgum trees , hazel trees , ash maples , chestnuts and the Caucasian wingnut , an antler tree , ginkgo tree , a coastal sequioie , a red oak , an American linden , a trumpet tree and tulip trees , as well as a Caucasian zelkove were also planted.
Design of the park
The central focal point is the round of a large water basin built on the southern edge of the adjoining old park, with the fountain that dates back to the 19th century and is currently no longer functional . After the technical overhaul in spring and the planned commissioning in June 2010, it will be serviced by a company from Lechenich. The pool was planted in a semicircle with trees providing shade. Groups of barberries provide shelter for the users of the benches set up by the fountain basin. A slightly curved circular path surrounds the large open space of the new park area. The areas between the edge zones and the parking paths were with grove strip of willow , hazel , and shrub groups of sloe , spindle tree , red dogwood , Kolkwitzien and Weigela , wild rose , hawthorn , elder , grapes elderberry , hawthorn , and vulgar snowball planted loosened. Within the open space, solitary trees as well as a hornbeam group and groups of shrubs were planted. There are copper beeches on a hill and a larch on the meadow as focal points. English roses were planted on a rose hill . The roses were a gift from the City of Wokingham on the occasion of the twinning 's 25th anniversary .
Japanese cherry on the northwest edge of the old park
View from the northeast towards the fountain
Path on the west side
A large natural meadow within the open space with high grass growth is intended to serve as a protection zone for insects and ground-nesting animals and is therefore only mowed once a year. New fruit trees were planted in the small, traditional part of the former “Bungert”, so that old types of fruit such as Gravensteiner , Bohnapfel , Berlepsch , Schafsnase, Weinbirne and Cartilage cherry can be brought back to Lechenich. In the transition area to the meadow, wild varieties such as wild apples , wild pears and wild cherries are intended to illustrate the development towards table fruit. The edge areas of the meadow area, which are planted with bushes, demarcate them from the residential areas that partially surround the park. On the orchard and on the edge of the biotope , skudden and goats are used for grazing from spring to autumn .
Overall picture of the plants
The parks are located in the center of the district and can therefore also be reached by non-residents in a few minutes' walk from the central bus station on the town's market. For the area of the old park, sturdy footwear is recommended in rainy weather due to the paths not underlaid with gravel for drainage (except for the avenue of lime trees). No shelters or toilet facilities have been built in the historic or the new park area . The paths laid out in the new area of the facility are paved, well-kept and in many places they are equipped with benches. The numerous and in their diversity lush plantings since the park expansion are very high in view of the few hectares of land, but not named on the property itself. A central information board at the fountain system only provides general information, but does not reflect the current status, but lists the number of plantings in the 1990s. What has been done since then by committed members of clubs and associations, mostly on a voluntary basis , has grown into a handsome park.
According to the most recent (2005) contractual agreements between Prinz Reuss, the current owner, and the city administration, regular maintenance of the park areas has now been established, with the city of Erftstadt's green space department bearing the costs for maintenance.
Today's park areas next to the historic castle ruins form a successful combination of horticultural design forms. The unspoiled core area of the palace park and the surrounding expansion area have also become a unity in the eyes of the visitors.
literature
- Frank Kretschmar: The Lechenich Castle Park . Erftstadt yearbook 1996.
- Hans Joachim Kühlborn: 100 years of Lechenich Castle Park in : The Castle Park in Liblar and Lechenich . City of Erftstadt o.J.
Individual evidence
- ^ Wilhelm Brüning: The Aachen coronation trip of Friedrich III. in 1442 In: From Aachen's prehistory. Announcements from the association for customers of the Aachen prehistory . No. 6/8. Aachen 1898 pages 81-104. Lechenicher Kellnereirechnungen 1650-59 (hunting company and fishing), published in K. and H. Stommel: Sources for the history of the city of Erftstadt Volume IV. Erftstadt 1996. No. 2498
- ↑ HSTAD Electorate of Cologne IV Lechenicher Kellnereirechnungen published in K. and H. Stommel: Sources V No. 2661 and the 2835th
- ^ Frank Bartsch: Continuity and change in the country. The Rhine Prussian mayor of Lechenich in the 19th and early 20th centuries (1815-1914) pp. 650–656 and notes 4610, 4616.
- ^ Frank Kretschmar: The Lechenich castle park . Erftstadt yearbook 1996 pages 37–40
- ↑ Kölner Stadtanzeiger, August 5, 2009
- ^ B. Seidel: City as living space. Biotope mapping of the city of Erftstadt from 1991. City of Erftstadt 1992.
- ↑ According to documents from the Lechenich horticultural association
- ^ Frank Bartsch: Continuity and change in the country. The Rhenish Prussian mayor of Lechenich in the 19th and early 20th centuries (1815 - 1914) p. 699 Note 4666
- ↑ Hans Joachim Kühlborn: 100 Years of Lechenich Castle Park in: The Castle Park in Liblar and Lechenich. City of Erftstadt o.J.
- ↑ Documents of the horticultural association
- ↑ Kölnische Rundschau and Kölner Stadtanzeiger on June 23, 1998
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 48 ′ 12.5 ″ N , 6 ° 46 ′ 2.3 ″ E