Dessau-Wörlitz Cultural Foundation

The Garden Kingdom

The Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz was originally designed by Prince Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau (1740 – 1817) following reforms inspired by the spirit of the Enlightenment. Approximately 142 km² of this historically unique ​“state beautification” project are still preserved today. Castles, cottages, churches, guardhouses and a variety of park structures, as well as the ornately designed and largely preserved gardens and parks are interwoven into the Elbe and Mulde river meadowlands. 

In 2000, the Garden Kingdom was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site featuring a unique landscaping concept interconnecting six separate parks and gardens and a range of stylistic epochs. 

Between Dessau and Wörlitz, visitors can experience this impressive spectrum of cultural history – from Baroque, Rococo and Classicism to modern Bauhaus architecture. The five castles with their original interior furnishings and respective gardens vividly embody the culture and history of the Dessau ducal court and the era of German Enlightenment.