The Ostein Landscape Garden - an early example of romantic gardens.

The park is located north of the Rhine River on a hilltop with impressive views of the Rhine bend near Bingen. It is largely a former hunting area with timber exploitation. The trees were repeatedly shortened and sprouted again. This leads to low trees with sparse growth. In between the lower berms, however, there are always tall old oaks.

 

 

 

The name of the park can be traced back to its initaor Johann Friedrich Karl Maximilian von Ostein. In 1764 the construction of a hunting lodge on a ridge was started and the surrounding forest was developed as a hunting ground. A remnant of this is a gate with fallow deer next to the castle.

Already ten years after the construction of the castle, the count began to transform the surrounding forest. Wooden buildings were erected which, although serving as a symbol of seclusion, soon became a destination for excursions. At the end of the eighteenth century, stone buildings in an romantic style followed - artificial castle ruins (Rossel castle ruin), a temple with a view of the Rhine valley or a knight's hall, of which only the foundation walls are preserved today. A half-terrestrial magic cave (as a 60 m long corridor) with a magic hut fits well into the romantic concept. Originally, the park was accessible only to the count and his guests. With the count's death, many buildings fell into disrepair. Today, the grounds have been restored or rebuilt after war damage. As part of the World Heritage Middle Rhine Valley, the park is well accessible. From the neighboring wine villages of Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen, cable cars lead from the valley up to the mountain ridge. Part of the park today is also the Niederwald Monument, built from 1871 to 1883 to commemorate the founding of the German Empire in 1871. The 38-high statue of Germania there looks out over the vineyards and the Rhine, visible from afar.

During the meeting in Babenhausen we had the chance to visit the place with our guests.