Palace Pond – Bird Paradise at the New Palace

"The swans contribute greatly to the beauty. They lend the stream regal splendor across its broad surface, and a lovelier frame of all these palaces and residences is hardly imaginable."
Theodor Fontane in 1873: "Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg. Bd. 3: Ost-Havelland"
The descriptions attest to the significance of the swans for estate gardens in the 19th century.

Autumn day at New Palace (Photographer: L. Koch)

New pond on the old place

Ahead of you lies the largest and newest pond in Bendeleben Palace Park. It was constructed with a pond liner in the 1960s. As the map from 1724 shows, there was once a pond on this spot which disappeared over time as it became filled with silt. The New Palace, built by Wilhelm von Krause in 1860, is in the background. Today it is used as a nursing home.

Swan with cygnets (Photographer: M. Graefe)

Refuge for swan and kingfisher

Today the water surfaces not only give the New Palace an enchanting mirrored surface, but also offer water birds a valuable habitat. Let yourself be bewitched by the majestic swans, which have been popular guests in estate gardens for centuries. With a little bit of luck you might also discover the kingfisher here or even the short-eared owl. Unlike other owls, this rare species can be seen during the day and recognized by the noisy beating of its wings. Discover the animal species shown here in the water and throughout the park.

The history of Bendeleben Palace Park

• 1765 - Johann Jacob von Uckermann had the park put in next to his estate.
• 1860 - Wilhelm von Krause, owner of the estate since 1849, had the new palace built.
• about 1920 - Wilhelm Hugo Ernst von Krause built a bathhouse, riding arena and tennis court.
• about 1930 - Alexandra von Arnim (adopted daughter of von Krause) established a seed breeding business.
• 1945 - The government expropriated the von Krause family from palace, park and seed breeding business
• 1960 -The old rows of linden trees were felled. A pond was put in at the front of the palace.
• since 1990 - The von Arnim family returned to the estate. The new palace is a nursing home. The park remains public property.
• 2015 - The 250th anniversary of the palace park was celebrated in baroque style in Bendeleben.

General Map of Bendeleben Palace Park
© blattwerk bremen

Photos

Animal species in the park

View over the large pond at the palace (Photographer: L. Koch)