Tiergarten is Berlin’s oldest park and sits at the center of the city. Early settlements were generally defined by the natural environment along the River Spree. Set aside by prince-electors in the 16th century, the forest, meadows, and wetlands on the outskirts of Berlin became the hunting grounds for Prussian nobles.
Photo of the Tiergarten © Jasmine Welch
The diverse vegetation was ideal for birds and other game that remained within the fenced-in hunting grounds for almost 200 years. During the 30 Years War (1618-1648) the fence was unkept and the game either wandered off or were killed by soldiers. During 1656 and 1657, the Great Elector Frederick William enlarged the Tiergarten, fencing it off again and replenishing the grounds with more game.
In 1695, the first king of Prussia, Frederick I, had the first avenue constructed within the Tiergarten, connecting the royal capital and the newly constructed summer palace, Schloss Charlottenburg. This avenue cut through the Tiergarten and created the ‘Great Star’, which lies at the center of the new avenue and has 8 sundial avenues that stretch through the Tiergarten. When Frederick William I accessed the throne, he ordered the fence to the hunting grounds be torn down and opened the park to the public.
Frederick II accessed the throne in 1740 and instructed his architect G.W. von Knobelsdorff to redevelop the old hunting grounds into a public park, or “pleasure ground”. The Great Star became adorned with statues and hedges and was complimented with walking paths winding in every direction. During this time, the Floraplatz, as well as the Venusbassin were constructed. Many people visited the Tiergarten, however with no public transportation, the eastern part of the Tiergarten, near the newly established districts within the city, received most of the visitors.
Photo of the Tiergarten © Jasmine Welch
During the 18th century, English style gardens were becoming more popular throughout Europe. In 1792, during the reign of Frederick William II, royal court gardener Sello began redesigning the park in this influential English style, creating the Schlosspark Bellevue for Prince Ferdinand of Prussia. During 1798 and 1799, renovations to the path leading to Charlottenburg took place, and the paved street, Charlottenburger Chaussee was created. Simultaneously, Carl Gotthard Langhans was constructing the Brandenburg Gate on the East side of the Tiergarten.
Photo of Charlottenburger Chaussee and the Brandenburg Gate © Jasmine Welch