Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln

The flora is the initiate in the core 1864 Cologne Botanical Gardens. The herein contained Flora restaurant is briefly called Flora.

Previous system

The city of Cologne had for their municipal university a botanical garden, which even after the closure of the university had stock. When the city but for the new Cologne Central Station, a site near the new Tumski Bridge also needed, she put the Botanical Garden for the construction are available. After that, the plans for a new botanical garden started.

Origin / history

In September of 1862 a dozen decided influential men of Cologne economy, including Eduard von Oppenheim and Adolph Rautenstrauch, the statute of a joint-stock company to plant a botanical ornamental and pleasure gardens. With this idea, a replacement for the three years before closed in downtown old Botanical Garden to create, they also corresponded to the desire of large parts of the population that wanted such a device. The official founding of joint-stock company took place on 3 March 1863 and was approved by " supreme decree" of the then Prussian King Wilhelm. His wife Augusta praised this also the common good serving establishment and took over in May 1863 with a letter from the patronage

The now founded " Flora AG " acquired at a price of 22,130 thalers, which belongs to the mayoralty Longerich " Pilgramsche " plot. Located between the then villages Riehl and Nippes plot comprised an area of ​​22 acres of farmland, the expansion to a garden Julius Nieprasck, a disciple Peter Joseph Lenné, conducted according to its design. Nieprasck became the first director of the Cologne garden flora.

Heart of the new system was the so-called " Glass Palace ", a space created by the architect Max Nohl palatial conservatory of iron and glass, which was based on the examples of the Parisian Jardin d' hiver or of the Crystal Palace in London. The building was 57 meters long, 22.5 meters wide and 18 meters high.

The oldest part of the green area is 1862 according to plans of coming from Bonn, since 1816 acting in Berlin Prussian garden architect Peter Joseph Lenne created and inaugurated on August 14, 1864 actual flora. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Cologne Zoo. Both plants have been financed for the edification of the upper middle class by patronage of those same citizens in the form of joint stock companies. One of the main promoters of the plants was residing near Cologne banker Baron Eduard von Oppenheim. Central in this symmetrically arranged flower garden with sculptures on the main routes, the restaurant is built in the same time, originally in the form of a glass palace. With its ballroom and the garden terrace it is still used for events, however: The Flora Cologne is - based on the original form - completely renovated and given a dome roof again. Currently no events available in the Flora Köln can be performed. The re-opening is scheduled for spring 2014.

In the 19th century, the flora was also used as an exhibition site; 1875 and 1888 found horticultural exhibitions in 1889 an industrial exhibition. For the " German Art Exhibition" in 1906 several designed by renowned architects such as Peter Behrens exhibition buildings were built in the park area, but these were discontinued a few years later. In the place of " woman Rosenhof " by Joseph Maria Olbrich, a highly artistic sandstone building in Art Nouveau style, is today a modern building.

After financial problems the city had to take over the shares in 1909. 1912 to 1914 the park flora by Esser has been extended to the Botanical Garden with greenhouses for tropical and sub-tropical plants and orchids. Both parts were combined in 1920 to a 11.5 -hectare area. The greenhouses were badly damaged in World War II. The re-opening after the war took place on 29 December 1949. The Palm House was built in 1954. The other garden is laid out in the style of an English landscape park.

Anniversary

Flora and Botanical Garden in 2014 to celebrate her one hundred and fifty year anniversary. Until then, extensive remedial measures are pending. The greenhouses are now so heavily decayed that they are not to rehabilitate. For a new building around three million euros are needed to be raised through donations and sponsors. 30 now 2.50 m high plants were grown from own breeding by seedlings in 1975 in the " tropical " courtyard of the greenhouses planted relatively hardy Chinese windmill palm in tubs, which planted in 2008 as Germany's first Palm Avenue on the north -south axis of the garden into the open were.

Even the building Flora will be refurbished to the anniversary. The roof design should be re- adjusted to the original state with a domed roof. The budget is around 36 million euros

October

Rock garden with lily pond

Greenhouse

Greenhouse, flowers

Lemons

Flora

Hemp palm trees in the field

Subtropenhaus in the Botanical Garden

Tropical House

Sequoia in Cologne's Flora

Task

The flora shows about 10,000 species of plants outdoors and in greenhouses in its diversity and its importance for horticulture and garden design for technology, nutrition, medicine, and for construction and textile being, both for education and for recreation. School classes of all levels can receive instruction on more than 25 topics in the Green School Flora, depending on the season and age. The historic facility is at the same time also a monument to the spirit of the time in the garden art.

Awards

2012 was the Botanical Garden of the International Camellia Society for its over 600 annual varieties and species Camellia comprehensive exhibition entitled International Camellia Garden of Excellence, which is awarded only to 30 gardens around the world.

Events

Particularly noteworthy is the summer night in the zoo and fauna, even offers the opportunity to observe wildlife at night, which is especially attractive by the artistic accompanying music and juggling at both locations.

Special

The Cologne Flora was incorporated in 2005 as a major botanical garden in the street of garden design between the Rhine and Meuse.

The entrance to the garden is free, even if the Cologne city council this already wanted to change a few times.

Connections and access

Zoo and flora are tightly fitted between the district Köln- Riehl and the Rhine. Although near a limited number of paid parking spaces are available to travel by public transportation ( subway line line 16 and get off at Children's Hospital or U -Bahn 18 to Zoo / Flora) is recommended.

Zoo and flora are connected by the Cologne Cable Car with Cologne Rhine park on the other side of the Rhine. The park (and the cable car ) were created at the Federal Garden Show 1957. It is a complementary offer of the flora.

Friends Botanical Garden Cologne

The Circle of Friends was founded in 1982. He has set itself the task to support the flora and their maintenance through contributions, donations and sponsorship by means of an extensive program of events in and for the flora, as was already the case with the foundation by citizens of Cologne.