The Grugapark is a central park in the city of

Essen Essen () is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund, as well as ...

North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia or North-Rhine/Westphalia, commonly shortened to NRW, is a States of Germany, state () in Old states of Germany, Western Germany. With more than 18 million inhabitants, it is the List of German states by population, most ...

, Germany. It was first opened in 1929 as the first "Große Ruhrländische Gartenbau-Ausstellung". Adjacent to the Grugapark is the Grugahalle concert hall and the Messe Essen exhibition centre. Grugapark

is a versatile destination offering something for everyone. It combines a

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

with rare and stunning plants, a vibrant animal park, a hub for games and sports, a relaxing health facility and spa, and expansive meadows perfect for picnics, barbecues, and leisure. With stylish restaurants, an open-air museum, and a concert arena, it's also a gastronomic and cultural hotspot. Located in Essen at the heart of the

Ruhr The Ruhr ( ; , also ''Ruhrpott'' ), also referred to as the Ruhr Area, sometimes Ruhr District, Ruhr Region, or Ruhr Valley, is a polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 1,160/km2 and a populati ...

region, this sprawling 700,000-square-meter park invites visitors year-round to connect with nature, enjoy events, or simply unwind. Originating from the Great Ruhr Landscape Gardening Exhibition of 1929, Grugapark is now one of Europe's largest and most beautiful leisure parks, renowned for its stunning landscapes and historic trees.

History

During WWII, 35 Russian forced labourers were killed by the

Gestapo The (, ), Syllabic abbreviation, abbreviated Gestapo (), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of F ...

at a place called Montagsloch.

Gallery

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-08024, Essen, Eröffnung der "Gruga".jpg, Opening of the Gruga in 1929 with a view from the Radio Tower: Dahlia arena behind, pergola garden and milk restaurant in front File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-08183, Essen, "Gruga" aus der Vogelperspektive.jpg, Event in the Radio Garden in 1929 File:Skulptur Joseph Enseling Trauer Essen Südwestfriedhof 2013.jpg, Bronze sculpture "Mourning" by Joseph Enseling, today at the Südwestfriedhof Essen File:Montagsloch Essen, Grugapark 03.JPG, Memorial stone at Montagsloch File:Essen Gruga Park Grugahalle.jpg, Main entrance area with the water fountains, on the left the Grugahalle File:Ronald-Mc-Donald-Haus-Winter-2016.jpg, Ronald McDonald House, designed by

Friedensreich Hundertwasser Friedrich Stowasser (15 December 1928 – 19 February 2000), better known by his pseudonym Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser (), was an Austrian visual artist and architect who also worked in the field of environmental protection ...

File:Parkleuchten 2015, Essen, Grugapark 46.JPG, Parklights 2015 File:Biomasse-Heizwerk Grugapark Essen.jpg, Biomass heating plant File:Opening - Essen, European Green Capital 2017 09.jpg, Opening ceremony for the Green Capital of Europe - Essen 2017 File:Essen, Grugaturm 05.jpg, Flower courtyard with Grugaturm File:Tropenhaus, Grugapark Essen 03.JPG, Tropical house, botanical garden File:Grugabahn Heimliche Liebe.JPG, Grugabahn “Secret Love” File:Wasserfall Grugapark 2013 02.jpg, Waterfall in the Alpinum File:Grugapark Essen, Musikpavillon.jpg, Music pavilion and music garden File:Orangerie mit Orion.jpg, Crane meadow with orangery and sculpture “Orion” File:Margarethensee, Grugapark Essen 02.JPG, Margaret Lake File:Grugapark Waldteich 2013.jpg, Wald Lake File:Dahlienarena, Grugapark Essen.JPG, Dahlia Arena File:Gruga-Mustergärten-Bee-Home-Garden-2016.jpg, Pattern garden ''Bee Home Garden''

References

* * * * Essen Parks in Germany Gardens in North Rhine-Westphalia Protected areas established in 1929 1929 establishments in Germany {{NorthRhineWestphalia-geo-stub