There is a delicate scent of roses in the air. A breeze carries the aroma of countless blossoms through Dortmund's Westfalenpark and leads the senses to the Rosarium, one of the most magnificent rose gardens in Europe. As soon as you enter, an overwhelming play of colors unfolds. Deep purple, delicate apricot and radiant white adorn the flower beds. More than 3,000 varieties are displayed along the picturesque rose path: ground cover, bedding and climbing roses.
But the queen of flowers is just one example of the impressive variety of plants that the 70-hectare Westfalenpark has to offer. Once the venue for the Federal Garden Shows in 1959, 1969 and 1991, today it delights visitors with a variety of themed gardens. An idyllic cottage garden entices visitors with vegetables, fruit and herbs, while sustainable raised beds of perennials and a heath landscape with broom and snow heather species enchant the senses.
In the Asian garden, swamp cypresses, azaleas, pines and bamboo grow harmoniously side by side. Here, young and old can cross a pond over large stepping stones, dive under traditional wooden gates (torii) or relax in the tea house. The rhododendron and azalea garden captivates with its evergreen, small-leaved shrubs, while the central square, the heart of the park, is framed by palm trees and bright beds of summer flowers.
Far-reaching views over Dortmund
The green backdrop is already impressive from the ground, but it is simply breathtaking from up in the air: Those who take the cable car above the heads of other guests and overcome the 23-metre height difference between the southern and northern park areas have the perfect view of other attractions and points of interest such as the Iris pond or the sun sail, which was erected in 1969 and is used for smaller event formats. The lift is the oldest cable car still in existence in Germany and was built especially for a Federal Garden Show.
The view is even more spectacular from the nearby Florianturm, which boasts a rotating restaurant at a height of 137 meters and a viewing platform at a height of 142 meters. From the telecommunications tower, visitors can make out the Phoenix Lake, the former Phoenix-West blast furnace plant, the Reinoldi Church and the Dortmunder U. Other points of attraction far beyond the city limits are also visible - such as slag heaps and other landmarks of the Ruhr region.
The Westfalenpark was built in 1959 together with the Florian on the grounds of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Hain, an old landfill site and the site of the Buschmühle, which was destroyed in the Second World War. Other attractions for families that have been added and established over the years include the Robinson playground with Robinson pond, wooden ships and tree house, as well as the Langnese playground with roller coaster and swings. Westfalenpark is also home to the German Cookbook Museum, the "Mondo mio!" children's museum, the Dortmund Observatory, a nostalgic puppet theater and the Westfalen Ballet Center.
The lakeside stage at Buschmühlenteich also regularly comes to life for events such as concerts. Other event highlights include the annual Festival of Lights, Winterleuchten and the Juicy Beats music festival.
