Volkspark Oberaue, Public park in Jena, Germany
Volkspark Oberaue is a public park in central Jena that runs along the Saale River and connects three green areas: Rasenmühleninsel, Paradies, and Oberaue. The grounds have a children's playground, a skate area, slackline equipment, chess tables, grilling spots, and a long shared dining table.
The site's history goes back to 1893, when the first sports facilities were built there. A doctor named Moritz Seidel later donated his fortune to turn the area into a public green space, and in 2002 the park received the status of a protected cultural heritage monument.
The name "Volkspark" reflects the original idea of a green space open to everyone, not just to a privileged few. Today, visitors of all ages use the grounds freely, whether for a game of chess at the outdoor tables, a session on the slackline, or a barbecue with friends.
The park sits in central Jena and is easy to reach on foot from the city core. It is worth walking through all three sections in turn, as each one has a different character and different things to do.
In 2011, a concert against right-wing extremism drew around 50,000 people to the park, with performances by Udo Lindenberg and Peter Maffay. It was one of the largest public gatherings ever held in a German university city of this size.
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