What’s the most radiant color in nature right now? The color of roses, of course. Right now, they’re in full bloom and showing off their most colorful side all around Berlin. From one of Germany’s largest rose festivals, which just recently came to a close, to the world’s largest collection of roses —rose lovers are currently getting their money’s worth in and around Berlin. But in addition to these well-known highlights, there’s another very special place to discover: The rose garden on Peacock Island is one of the most romantic and historically significant rose gardens in the region.
Peacock Island on Berlin’s Wannsee covers approximately 67 hectares and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990 as part of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin. The rose garden was laid out as early as 1821 by the famous landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné. This makes it the oldest rose garden in Berlin. Today, more than 1,000 historic rose bushes representing around 200 different rose varieties grow here. Many of them date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and lend the garden a special historical character.
What makes the rose garden so extraordinary is not only its long history but also its unique location. The garden is situated in the middle of Peacock Island on the Havel River and is accessible exclusively by ferry. Even the short crossing is part of the experience and gives you the feeling of entering a little world far away from the big city .
Peacock Island itself looks back on an eventful past. At the end of the 18th century, King Frederick William II had a romantic pleasure palace built here. Under Frederick William III, the island later developed into a sprawling landscape park. To this day, peacocks roam freely there, giving the island its name and creating an almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere.
In addition to the rose garden, there are numerous other sights to discover on the island. These include the white island castle, the historic dairy, nearly 400 old oak trees, and numerous views of the Havel River. Extensive walking paths wind through the varied park landscape, making the island one of Berlin’s most beautiful recreational areas.
