Hofgarten (Innsbruck)
Encyclopedia
The Hofgarten in Innsbruck is a protected park
in Innsbruck
, the capital city of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. The park lies on the edge of the Old Town or Altstadt, covering an area of 10 hectares (24.7 acre), and borders on the Hofburg, the Kongresshaus and the Tyrolean State Theatre. During its 600 year existence this icon of garden styles that was originally a river meadow has been turned into a Renaissance
garden, a French formal garden and, for the last 150 years or so, an English landscape garden. Its last conversion was conceived by Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell
, but carried out four decades later by an unknown landscape designer who deviated significantly from Sckell's original proposal.
The Innsbruck Hofgarten is managed by the Austrian Federal Gardens (Österreichischen Bundesgärten), a subordinate department of the Ministry of the Environment (Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft).
The Hofgarten is a recreation area
within the city centre with an interesting and varied stock of mature trees, a set of ponds, a modern children's playpark, a palm house
and a popular garden restaurant.
The Hofgarten management is responsible for taking care of the park. It is notable that there are still plants in the park that were planted personally by the Austrian Empress, Maria Theresa. In the middle of the park is a pavilion dating to 1733, in which numerous events - mainly concerts - take place, whilst chess tournaments are fought on the outsize chess board there.
There is a lawn for sunbathing in the Hofgarten with a children's playpark. Otherwise walking on the ornate lawns is not permitted because they are susceptible to excessive use.
In the palm house is a comprehensive collection of about 1,700 species of plant, which may be viewed mostly on working days. During the temporary art and sculpture exhibitions in the summer season the palm house may also be visited at weekends.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, the capital city of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. The park lies on the edge of the Old Town or Altstadt, covering an area of 10 hectares (24.7 acre), and borders on the Hofburg, the Kongresshaus and the Tyrolean State Theatre. During its 600 year existence this icon of garden styles that was originally a river meadow has been turned into a Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
garden, a French formal garden and, for the last 150 years or so, an English landscape garden. Its last conversion was conceived by Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell
Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell
Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell was a German landscape gardener from Weilburg an der Lahn.Sckell was trained in the Court Market Garden in Schwetzingen near Mannheim and worked after his apprenticeship in Bruchsal, Paris, and Versailles. From 1773 to 1777, he was in England busying himself with...
, but carried out four decades later by an unknown landscape designer who deviated significantly from Sckell's original proposal.
The Innsbruck Hofgarten is managed by the Austrian Federal Gardens (Österreichischen Bundesgärten), a subordinate department of the Ministry of the Environment (Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft).
The Hofgarten is a recreation area
Recreation area
A recreation area is a type of protected area designated in some jurisdictions. In the United States, National Recreation Areas are administered by several different agencies. They typically do not meet the strict guidelines to become national parks. In U.S...
within the city centre with an interesting and varied stock of mature trees, a set of ponds, a modern children's playpark, a palm house
Palm House
A palm house is a greenhouse that is specialised for the growing of palms and other tropical and subtropical plants. Palm houses require constant heat and were built as status symbols in Victorian Britain...
and a popular garden restaurant.
The Hofgarten management is responsible for taking care of the park. It is notable that there are still plants in the park that were planted personally by the Austrian Empress, Maria Theresa. In the middle of the park is a pavilion dating to 1733, in which numerous events - mainly concerts - take place, whilst chess tournaments are fought on the outsize chess board there.
There is a lawn for sunbathing in the Hofgarten with a children's playpark. Otherwise walking on the ornate lawns is not permitted because they are susceptible to excessive use.
In the palm house is a comprehensive collection of about 1,700 species of plant, which may be viewed mostly on working days. During the temporary art and sculpture exhibitions in the summer season the palm house may also be visited at weekends.
Sources
- Kurt Walde: Der Innsbrucker Hofgarten und andere Gartenanlagen in Tirol, Universitätsverlag Wagner, Innsbruck, 1964
- Monika Frenzel: Historische Gartenanlagen und Gartenpavillons in Tirol, Dissertation, Innsbruck, 1978
- Katharina Seidl: Der Innsbrucker Hofgarten. Geschichte, Gartentheorie, Denkmalschutzsituation und Zukunftsaussichten, Innsbruck, Univ., Dipl.-Arb., 1995
- Monika Frenzel: Gartenkunst in Tirol, von der Renaissance bis heute, Tyrolia-Verlag Innsbruck-Vienna, 1998