A Garden Kingdom in Wörlitz?
When we think of cultural and natural heritage, Germany punches above its weight. With fifty-five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Germany has more sites than cultural heavyweights like Japan, Spain, France, or India. It speaks not only to the country’s cultural prowess but also to the policy priority for appropriate heritage management. During our road trip through the Luther Land, I was genuinely shocked by the density of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Inevitably, many sites go unnoticed, particularly among foreign travelers. One such example is the curiously named Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm in Saxony-Anhalt. It is far off the beaten track among foreign visitors, but it was too tempting for a world heritage site collector like myself.
Situated midway between Lutherstadt Wittenberg and Dessau, Wörlitz seemed like a perfect stop between the world of Martin Luther and the Bauhaus. From Wittenberg, it was only a forty-minute drive through the countryside to Wörlitz. Even though it was a Saturday and the weather was gorgeous, the town was eerily quiet; there seemed to be more restaurants than visitors. Part of me wondered whether this was the wrong season or day for a visit. Since this was somewhat of an impromptu visit, I didn't do much research about the garden’s history and main attractions. All I knew was that the garden’s vast expanse could warrant spending a few days.
Fortunately, a handy visitor center is conveniently located near the parking lots in the town center. The park itself is openly accessible and requires no admission fee or reservation. It was great, but a little unnerving that we were able to roam the ground freely. Visitors only need tickets if they plan to visit the interior of the various pavilions and small museums scattered across the garden. Given the size of the gardens and our limited time, we decided to save money and explore as much of the grounds as possible. The friendly girl at the visitor’s center gave us her personal recommendation on the highlights of Wörlitz.
So what made the Wörlitz so special? The gardens here are attributed to Leopold III Friedrich Franz, the 18th-century Prince and Duke of Anhalt-Dessau. The Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau was a minor principality; it perhaps relived young Leopold from
