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Aschaffenburg Palace Gardens

A special feature: Italy on the Lower Main River – vineyards and a Seville orange grove

Following a journey to ancient Pompeii in 1839, King Ludwig I decided to have one of the excavated villas reconstructed in its original size. This was to be built high above the River Main in Aschaffenburg and the existing palace garden was extended to create a Mediterranean-looking ‘landscape’ around it, to make the ensemble as authentic as possible. Most of the elements of this idealized Italian landscape surrounding the Pompeiianum have been retained, making this part of the palace garden unique. Vineyards, cypresses, a grove of araucaria, almond and fig trees, roses and agaves set the scene.

Peach and Seville orange trees were originally also planted in the garden. The foundations of the orangery where the trees had to be kept in the winter were found in front of the main entrance to the Pompeiianum.

Soon there will be a new grove of Seville orange trees here. Since there are no records to show exactly what it looked like, it will have a modern form. The designated area has already been prepared and temporarily planted with small juniper trees, pines and ornamental quinces, which will remain until the small Seville orange trees are big enough to put in place.

In 1959 Garden Director Bauer had the former peach garden replanted. The Mediterranean theme of the historical garden was continued in the form of two terraces with pergolas, and planted with roses and wisteria.