Botanischer Garten Gießen
Encyclopedia
The Botanischer Garten Gießen (4 hectares), more formally the Botanischer Garten der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, is a historic botanical garden
maintained by the University of Giessen
. It is the oldest botanical garden in Germany still at its original site, with an entrance at Senckenbergstraße 6, Gießen
, Hesse
, Germany
. It is open daily without charge.
The garden was founded in 1609 when Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
, donated part of the palace garden to his newly-established university for cultivation as a hortus medicus, following the earlier creation of such gardens at Leipzig
(1580), Heidelberg
(1597) and Eichstätt
(1600). Physician and botanist Ludwig Jungermann (1572-1653) laid out the garden over an area of 1200 m². The garden fell into decay during the Thirty Years' War
(1618–1648), but in 1699 the construction of a coldhouse for frost-sensitive plants was recorded, and in 1720 its first glasshouse was built (subsequently demolished in 1859). By 1773 the garden was described as a botanical garden rather than hortus medicus.
In 1802 the university's new forestry garden was established adjacent to the botanical garden by Friedrich Ludwig Walther (1759-1824). In 1805, when the city's fortress wall was torn down, the resultant space was incorporated into the garden; its remnants are still present under an artificial hill. Garden director Johann Bernhard Wilbrand united the botanical and forestry gardens, at which time the garden reached its present area. When the forestry garden was then moved in 1825 to today's site at the Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen
, its magnificent trees remained as part of the botanical garden. The garden was rearranged in 1891 to reflect a systematic organization, and in the early 1900s a large tropical house was constructed. Unfortunately the tropical house was destroyed in World War II
, and the garden itself severely damaged. The garden has now been thoroughly restored.
Today the garden contains around 8,000 species of plants, primarily for research use by students of botany
, agronomy
, geography
, medicine
, and veterinary medicine
.
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
maintained by the University of Giessen
University of Giessen
The University of Giessen is officially called the Justus Liebig University Giessen after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.-History:The University of Gießen is among the oldest institutions of...
. It is the oldest botanical garden in Germany still at its original site, with an entrance at Senckenbergstraße 6, Gießen
Gießen
Gießen, also spelt Giessen is a town in the German federal state of Hesse, capital of both the district of Gießen and the administrative region of Gießen...
, Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is open daily without charge.
The garden was founded in 1609 when Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
Louis V of Hesse-Darmstadt was the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1596 to 1626.He was born on 24 September 1577 as the son of George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Magdalene of Lippe....
, donated part of the palace garden to his newly-established university for cultivation as a hortus medicus, following the earlier creation of such gardens at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
(1580), Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
(1597) and Eichstätt
Eichstätt
Eichstätt is a town in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the District of Eichstätt. It is located along the Altmühl River, at , and had a population of 13,078 in 2002. It is home to the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the lone Catholic university in Germany. The...
(1600). Physician and botanist Ludwig Jungermann (1572-1653) laid out the garden over an area of 1200 m². The garden fell into decay during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
(1618–1648), but in 1699 the construction of a coldhouse for frost-sensitive plants was recorded, and in 1720 its first glasshouse was built (subsequently demolished in 1859). By 1773 the garden was described as a botanical garden rather than hortus medicus.
In 1802 the university's new forestry garden was established adjacent to the botanical garden by Friedrich Ludwig Walther (1759-1824). In 1805, when the city's fortress wall was torn down, the resultant space was incorporated into the garden; its remnants are still present under an artificial hill. Garden director Johann Bernhard Wilbrand united the botanical and forestry gardens, at which time the garden reached its present area. When the forestry garden was then moved in 1825 to today's site at the Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen
Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen
The Akademischer Forstgarten Gießen is historic arboretum and botanical garden located in the Schiffenberger Wald on Schiffenberger Weg, Gießen, Hesse, Germany. It is open daily without charge....
, its magnificent trees remained as part of the botanical garden. The garden was rearranged in 1891 to reflect a systematic organization, and in the early 1900s a large tropical house was constructed. Unfortunately the tropical house was destroyed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the garden itself severely damaged. The garden has now been thoroughly restored.
Today the garden contains around 8,000 species of plants, primarily for research use by students of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
, geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, and veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
.