Great Greenhouse

Elector Wilhelm II of Hesse-Kassel had the Grand Greenhouse built in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe in 1822–23. It was expanded between 1886 and 1888 with a large rectangular central section and still captivates visitors today with its delicate iron-and-glass structure, which is among the earliest of its kind in Germany.

Frost-sensitive plants such as palms, camellias, bananas, and other exotic species overwinter here. You’ll be greeted by a vibrant sea of blooms, featuring not only numerous camellias—some up to 150 years old—and other potted plants, but also a colorful array of cyclamens, primroses, and cinerarias. In the spring, after the Ice Saints, the plants are literally “set out into the open air” again, following an old tradition.