Hofgarten, University park in central Bonn, Germany.
The Hofgarten is a seven-hectare park in central Bonn stretching between the city center and the Südstadt district. Tree-lined paths wind through open lawns, and a neoclassical museum housing classical antiquities occupies a building within the grounds.
The garden originated in the mid-18th century as part of the Electoral Palace grounds, designed according to French landscaping principles with terraces and lime tree avenues. In the years following World War II, the meadow served a temporary function as a processing site for released prisoners.
The name recalls the palace that once stood here, and today the space serves as a gathering place for students and residents throughout the year. The open lawns and shaded pathways become a natural extension of the surrounding neighborhoods where people study, walk, and spend free time.
The park is open year-round with no entrance fee, and wheelchair-accessible paths run throughout the grounds with restroom facilities available in the university building. Walking at a leisurely pace allows you to discover the different sections and enjoy the shade under the mature trees without rushing.
Between 1945 and 1947, the meadow served as a temporary camp where released prisoners of war received support for their return to civilian life. This chapter of its past is barely visible today, yet it marked a turning point in how the space was used and perceived.
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