Old Botanical Garden, Kiel, Botanical garden and cultural heritage monument in Kiel, Germany
The Old Botanical Garden in Kiel covers 2.5 hectares with curved pathways, several ponds, and collections of herbaceous plants along Düsternbrooker Weg. The layout blends open lawns with planted beds, creating a calm space within the urban environment.
The garden began in 1825 as a private park created by tobacco manufacturer Abraham Christian Brauer and became part of the University of Kiel in 1868. This transition transformed it into an important green learning space for the academic institution.
The former garden inspector's cottage now houses the Literature House of Schleswig-Holstein, hosting readings and literary events throughout the year. Visitors can experience the region's contemporary cultural life while exploring this converted space.
The garden lies at Düsternbrooker Weg 19, north of Kiel's city centre near the Kunsthalle and university clinics. Its hilly terrain rises over 20 metres, and winding paths cross the slopes. Public guided tours have been held since 1980.
The garden holds two dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) grown from Arnold Arboretum seed and planted around 1948; they are counted among the oldest of their kind on the European mainland. Nearby also stands a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), unusual for this climate.
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