3. - Schlösser-Magazin

Thus the numerous small 18th-century trellis
structures were not reconstructed, not even
within the parterre. The clumps of lilac
there date from c.1900, the grassed court
of honour from the first half of the 19thcentury,
the orangery square in its current
shape and furnishing from the second half
of the 19th-century. Larger-scale measures
like the restoration of the parterre beds and
the avenue trees 1 have been conducted with
proper scientific care. The latter undertaking
in particular was highly appreciated by
experts of the time for its close approximation
of Baroque planting schemes, something that
had not been accomplished before.
The ”International Symposium on the
conservation of historic gardens“ organised
in Schwetzingen in 1975 as part of the
“European Monument Year”, with the
assistance of the German National Committee
of ICOMOS, was a tribute and proof of
national and international appreciation of the
high preservation and maintenance standards.
Schwetzingen does not owe its high level
of authenticity as an 18th-century summer
residence to the outstanding number and
quality of its original features only. The
systematic protection of buildings and
furnishings against the elements, the expert
maintenance of the garden areas and the
use of original materials and techniques for
necessary repairs ensure the entire estate’s
authenticity in accordance with the “Venice
Charter” (Articles 4-14), and that of the
1 The overhaul of the central parterre was limited to the beds
and broderies. Historical simplifications in the vicinity, such as
the dismantling of the latticework features, were accepted as
given. When weighing the pros and cons the fact was relevant
that by contrast to gardens like that of Nymphenburg there had
been no conceptual reorientation at Schwetzingen – merely
an extensification due to limited funds. In the course of the
19th-century the scheme of border planting was taken up again
several times, and redefined in the taste of the time. In the
then-modern context of the “garden monument” discussion the
original planting schemes were reintroduced as the circular
parterre’s basic design pinciple. The renewal of missing lime
trees (the trees were pruned regularly in the 18th and 19thcenturies)
was also legitimized by the “rejuvenating” tradition
inherent in the estate itself. This was put into practice after
phases of relative neglect, in response to some requirement or
concern and in the shape of major activities, usually involving
the successful road-testing of new gardening practices. An
ongoing rejuvenation of the avenue trees was not practiced
at Schwetzingen, again in contrast to Nymphenburg. What
ultimately caused the replanting was the fact that the aging
trees made the area unsafe for passersby.
3. Justification for Inscription
gardens in accordance with the “Florence
Charter” (Articles 10-22). These efforts
to maintain that degree of authenticity
are documented in detail by the park
management plan, building management plan
and the relevant Articles (Gestaltungssatzung)
issued by the town of Schwetzingen. Five
examples should serve to illustrate this:
1. Protection of original features:
In accordance with Article 13 of the “Florence
Charter”, most of the sculptures installed
in the palace gardens were replaced with
copies in the second half of the 20th-century.
Fountain statuary was re-cast in lead, marble
statues copied in marble, sandstone sculptures
reproduced in cast stone. The full set of
originals has remained at Schwetzingen;
an exhibition space has been created in the
orangery where the sculptures are protected
from the weather and may be viewed at
leisure.
2. Use of original materials and traditional
techniques:
In the case of building measures the main
objective is a maximal preservation of original
features, and the use of well-documented
traditional materials in accordance with
Article 9 of the “Venice Charter”. During
the restoration of the orangery (1993-1999)
the original 18th-century windows, doors
and gates were merely repaired, and all
plastered walls preserved in their original
state. As in the 18th-century the rooms, still
used as an orangery in winter, feature a
high-maintenance clay floor and the original
cast-iron heating stove that together with the
plant tubs present an authentic image of the
building and its function during the winter
months.
3. Expert garden maintenance:
In the gardens, too, the degree of authenticity
is remarkable. The fact is proved by the
park management plan, which documents
all stages of every area of the garden from
the 18th-century to the present. This is due,
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