Restored State Border Crossing Park Revitalized for Musician - Cross-border restoration completed for Muskauer Park
Rejuvenated Muskauer Park, World Heritage Site, Celebrates 20 Years Across Borders
The Muskauer Park, nestled between Germany and Poland, has undergone a dramatic transformation following its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004. The restoration efforts in the last two decades have been driven by the joint commitment of both nations, as noted by Cord Panning, managing director of the Fürst-Pückler-Park Bad Muskau foundation.
Prior to the UNESCO designation, the park bore the marks of neglect, resembling a ruin in parts. Now, thanks to federal, Warsaw, and Saxon funding, the renovated central areas are a testament to the power of conservation. Panning underscores the crucial role the World Heritage title played in securing funding that otherwise might have been uncertain.
On this special anniversary, both sides of the border commemorate the park's unique history. Saxony's Minister of Culture, Barbara Klepsch, who attended the afternoon celebrations, described the recognition as a "true success story." She emphasized the positive impact the park's revitalization has on regional development and tourism in the Lusatia region.
Hermann von Pückler-Muskau, a celebrated landscape artist, conceived and developed the park between 1815 and 1845. The Neisse River, which became a border river post-WWII, is an integral part of the landscape garden. Since 1945, the park extends to around two-thirds on Polish soil, reflecting the park's transboundary nature.
Through a joint application by Germany and Poland, Pückler's masterpiece was added to the UNESCO list in 2004. The commemorative plaque, unveiled on the double bridge on the Jeanetten Island on Wednesday, recognizes the park as "an exceptionally outstanding example of a European landscape park and an artistic ideal landscape." The plaque replaces the one stolen last year.
Collaboration between the German foundation and the National Institute for Cultural Heritage in Warsaw and its branch in Łęknica has been instrumental in managing the heritage site as a binational World Heritage site. Over €60 million have been invested in the park on the German side since 1993, with restoration projects focusing on historically significant structures and maintaining the original design.
The park areas in the two countries had developed independently after the border was drawn, but restorations have ensured the recovery of lost sight axes and the reconstruction of bridges destroyed in 1945. Some notable rebuilds include the New Palace, which burned down shortly before the end of WWII and stood as a ruin in the park for decades.
The park welcomed approximately 330,000 visitors last year, with the number of Polish guests significantly increasing. The celebrations on the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO designation are not limited to Bad Muskau, with other World Heritage sites like the Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří and the Herrnhuter Brudergemeine in Dippoldiswalde participating in events this weekend.
Klepsch praised the three Saxon World Heritage sites, remarking their great importance to both culture and tourism. She noted how they preserve cultural heritage and attract numerous guests from around the world, underscoring their universal significance. In this way, the Muskauer Park continues to serve as a symbol of cross-border cooperation and a vibrant cultural asset, transcending national boundaries.
The community policy and employment policy have played significant roles in securing funding for the restoration and conservation of the Muskauer Park, enabling the renovation of central areas and preserving the unique European landscape park as a joint initiative between Germany and Poland. With landscaped gardens extending to Polish territory, the park's revitalization has fostered a close collaboration between the German foundation and the National Institute for Cultural Heritage in Warsaw, providing a vibrant home-and-garden lifestyle destination that welcomes visitors from both countries and around the world.
