A little bit of shade is especially nice on a hot summer's day. In the Rastatt Favorite Palace garden, numerous tress offer refreshing shade and invite strolling visitors to explore their impressive diversity.
Stream with waterfall near the back of the palace garden.
The garden at Rastatt Favorite Palace is an example of the landscape garden vogue of the late 18th century. The royal gardener, Johann Michael Schweyckert, transformed Margravine Sibylla Augusta von Baden-Baden's former Baroque pleasure garden into a landscape garden. His extensive studies in botany and garden design inspired him in his work, which has now become an important landscape landmark.
The numerous exotic trees from across the globe are what make the Rastatt Palace garden a botanical treasure. Especially considering that many of these tree species were completely unknown in Europe at the time at which they were planted here. After lying dormant for a period, the palace garden experienced its renaissance in the 19th century, when there was a renewed interest in botany. It is still worth a visit today, not just on hot summer days.
While this tree lends wonderful shade during the summer months, the American sweetgum brings a piece of the famous “Indian Summer” to the Rastatt Favorite Palace garden in the fall. This North American tree species has been known in Europe since the 17th century. Its leaves and fruit emit a pleasant sweet scent. This is why the juice was once used to make chewing gum in the United States.
Sessile oak.
Its sweeping crown makes the sessile oak the ideal refuge from the hot summer sun. This oak is widely distributed across Central Europe. The uniform woodgrain, its attractive color and stability of oak wood make this tree a favorite in building furniture. The wood of the sessile oak is especially precious and is therefore used for veneer.
Douglas fir.
Even though the Douglas fir is one of the more well-known tree species, it is an exotic in the palace garden. It comes from distant North America, but is now also cultivated in European forestry. The evergreen conifer is remarkable not only for its aesthetic elegance, but also for its scent. The Douglas fir conjures a wisp of forest air into the palace garden, which is especially enjoyable on a stroll through the garden!
Copper beech.
The copper beech is an especially beautiful tree, a whim of nature. Science has traced this mutation of the classical common beech to a missing enzyme. This beech's intense red coloring make it an especially interesting specimen. The copper beech has been known since the 15th century and is therefore a requisite addition to the monumental tree inventory in the Rastatt Favorite Palace garden.
European yew.
As impressive as it is dangerous: The European yew casts a spell over everyone with its unusual appearance. But beware! Almost every part of this tree is poisonous. This shouldn't dissuade visitors from taking a nice rest under this mystical tree on hot summer days. Because the yew is an endangered tree in Europe, the palace garden offers a rare opportunity to admire this tree in all its glory.
Dawn redwood.
Despite its impressive size, its true uniqueness is not immediately apparent. The dawn redwood can grow 40 meters high! An exciting fact: For a long time, this tree species was only known as a fossil and was not rediscovered until 1941, when it was found in a remote mountain region of China. The dawn redwood, with a history going back 130 million years, has earned its name and was introduced to the palace garden not long after its discovery in China. Now it can be admired on any stroll through the garden.
Buckeye.
The native buckeye is every bit as exciting as any of the exotic trees. In the summer, in full bloom, its stately countenance graces the garden at Rastatt Favorite Palace. Many myths surround the buckeye. One of the more interesting ones involves an old superstition that states that carrying three chestnuts in your pocket protects the carrier from gout. What's more, loitering near a buckeye is supposed to invigorate the nerves. Visitors can try it for themselves in the palace garden!
