The 9th Saxon State Garden Show in Torgau is now open. Guests are welcome to the 24-hectare site on the outskirts of the small town of Torgau in northern Saxony until October.
The 9th Saxon State Garden Show in Torgau has had a great opening. Guests are now welcome to the 24-hectare site on the outskirts of the small town of Torgau in northern Saxony until October 9.
The State Garden Show in Torgau, Saxony, has opened. As in other places, the event welcomes interested visitors from near and far. It attracts them with upgraded and redesigned open spaces in and on the outskirts of the town. Here, rich vegetation, habitats for animals and plants, but also the close connection to the Elbe and the old town characterize the situation. With the development of the State Garden Show, the potential of Torgau was taken up, carefully developed and utilized in new ways.
Competition for the Torgau State Garden Show
Against this backdrop, the 2022 horticultural show represents the start of a modern and family-friendly urban renewal. This will bring Torgau closer to its goal of becoming a star among Saxony’s medium-sized centers. However, the past also plays a role on the way to this new future. The town of the Reformation and the Renaissance hopes to write another chapter in its history books with the State Garden Show.
The participants in the competition for the State Garden Show in Torgau, Saxony, were already given the motto of nature, people and history. Because nature shapes the town of Torgau and its surroundings. It provided and continues to provide the framework for the garden show grounds. In addition, the focus is on the people for whom the State Garden Show opens up new opportunities for togetherness. The horticultural show offers them the opportunity to appropriate new areas and to get involved as citizens.
But history is also more present in Torgau than in almost any other town in the region. It attracts visitors and enriches the entire Torgau 2022 State Garden Show project. The basis for this is the design by the team from Station C23 – Büro für Architektur, Landschaftsarchitektur und Städtebau. They won over the competition jury, won first prize and went on to oversee the design of the garden show site.
24 hectares of garden show
The three themes – people, nature and history – are assigned to spatial focal points at the Torgau State Garden Show. However, there is no clear separation, as all aspects are linked to the open space and the entire town. The 24-hectare area of the 9th Saxon State Garden Show in Torgau stretches between the historic Glacis town park, which was laid out in the 19th century during the fortress era, and the Elbe landscape. The four areas embedded in it – the Glacis, the Young Garden, the Oak Meadow and the Concert Square – will attract visitors this year.
A two-kilometre-long main path also winds its way through the newly designed garden show area. Here, visitors can recharge their batteries in the midst of a green oasis and be guided and inspired by the beauty of nature. In addition, a regular shuttle bus service connects the entrance and exit areas with the main sites of the garden show, the train station and parking lots. Of course, the bus also stops in Torgau’s historic city center, which still bears witness to the beauty of the Renaissance.
Ice rink meadow in the Glacis municipal park
The Glacis city park with its two northern sections forms the heart of the Torgau State Garden Show. Its historically evolved terrain, which dates back to the city park first modeled in the 19th century, has a lot to offer. In the area of the ice rink meadow, for example, there is a modern crane playground inspired by the spirit of discovery of children. The partially redesigned waterfront area is also a magnet. In addition, the nearby Ornis footbridge invites you to observe nature and birds.
The approximately 12,000 square meter Young Garden connects the Glacis to the newly discovered oak meadow. Where there used to be industry, there is now the EZEL sports and play park, a leisure area for all age groups.
Interactive oak meadow
An interactive area awaits visitors in the Eichwiese area. Here you can look out over the Elbe floodplain from the Deichgucker observation tower or marvel at the animal species native to the Torgau Ark, including those from Leipzig Zoo. Those who prefer to let off steam will also get their money’s worth on the HIT wooden oak playground. There is also a barefoot path and the Elbe Beach. One of the highlights in the Eichwiese area is the concert square, which was created on the former slaughterhouse site. Flower halls and various themed gardens also await visitors here.
The old Bastion VII accessible again
The Torgau State Garden Show extends into Bastion VII. This was part of the former main structure of the main state fortress. This makes it one of the surviving sections of the historic fortifications from the Napoleonic Wars, when it served as a soldiers’ shelter. After the bastion lay dormant in recent years, the flank casemate with its five barrel vaults was gradually renovated. It will be accessible to visitors again for the first time at the 2022 State Garden Show.
The Torgau State Garden Show inspires
Enthusiasm was already high at the opening of the State Garden Show in Torgau. On the very first weekend, the horticultural show offered the opportunity to recharge the batteries and confidence that the region needs on its way into the future. The doors in Torgau are now open until October 2022.
In the July issue of G+L, we take a look at the various garden shows of the year – including the Torgau State Garden Show. You can find the magazine in our store. Editor-in-chief Theresa Ramisch writes in her editorialabout what else we present in the issue.
