Grugapark

Große Ruhrländische Gartenbauausstellung (Gruga) (Great Ruhr Landscape Gardening Exhibition) with Botanical Gardens, Reichsgartenschau 1938 (Reich Garden Show), National Garden Show 1965, Essen's largest park

Nature presents itself from its most beautiful side in the Grugapark. It is the green oasis in the heart of the metropolis. For children, the park is a paradise with its huge playgrounds while teenagers and adults use it as an outdoor meeting place. Today, Essen's largest park is a wonderful garden with beautiful and rare plants, an attractive small zoo, a paradise for play and sports, a health centre and spa, a recreational area with vast meadows, play and BBQ areas and a gastronomic meeting place with restaurants.

The Grugapark dates back to the Weimar Republic – however, only the Gruga Tower remains from that time. Nothing more is left of the park area from that era except for the Botanical Gardens, at that time still separate, which opened in 1927 and are regarded as the nucleus of the Grugapark. They have remained completely intact from the founding era with their Alpinum (alpine garden), Rhododendron Valley, Westphalian Farmer's Garden, Rose Garden and the system of pathways. You are in the right place if you want to see well maintained horticultural art from that period.

Gruga and the Botanical Gardens are part of the southwest reform architecture walk.