Wörlitzer Park has recovered from the corona-related reluctance of visitors. It is feared that inflation and the energy crisis will mean that fewer people will take advantage of the cultural offerings next year.
Dessau-Roßlau/Wörlitz (dpa/sa) - The Wörlitzer Park (Wittenberg district) remains a popular destination. "The tendency can be seen that the number of guests has moved up again compared to the previous year," said the spokesman for the Dessau-Wörlitz Cultural Foundation, Steffen Kaudelka. "As of September 30, 14,402 visitors had already been welcomed to Wörlitz Castle, compared to only 14,106 guests for the entire 2021 season."
The Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz itself has significantly more visitors, and entry is free. There are only guest numbers in the castles that require admission, on gondolas and ferries.
"But against the background of rising energy prices, we have to be prepared for the fact that the number of guests will decline again in 2023 due to the reluctance to spend money on museum offers," said Kaudelka. The budget for next year is 10.5 million euros. The foundation currently employs around 100 people, plus 35 seasonal workers and 40 to 80 temporary workers.
The high point of the Garden Kingdom season was the Garden Kingdom Summer. The format of the promenade concerts, which was newly introduced in 2021, in which the guests learn interesting and worth knowing things about the respective venue, has proven itself. The theater performances and the Wörlitz Film Days on the island of Stein were also very successful.
In addition, the restoration of Stein Island was completed after almost three decades. Around twelve million euros have been invested. The Stein island is one of the prominent points in the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz, which was recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site in 2000.
"The renaming of the town of Nischwitz to Oranienbaum 350 years ago is commemorated with a new permanent exhibition in the palace," said Kaudelka. In addition, the author Florian Illies will hold the keynote speech on the occasion of the anniversary "250 years of Wörlitz Castle". Wörlitzer Park also marks the 250th anniversary of the start of construction of the Gothic House. The Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz honors the history of the houses with a multifaceted anniversary program.
The ensemble of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom was commissioned by Prince Leopold III in 1764. Friedrich Franz von Anhalt-Dessau (1740-1817) over decades. The core is the Wörlitzer Park, which is considered to be the first English-style landscape garden outside of England.
