Englisch
  “The historic garden is one of the features of the patrimony whose survival, by reason of its nature, requires intensive, continuous care by trained experts....
…..Interest in historic gardens should be stimulated by every kind of activity capable of emphasising their true value as part of the patrimony and making for improved knowledge and appreciation of them: promotion of scientific research; international exchange and circulation of information; publications, including works designed for the general public; the encouragement of public access under suitable control and use of the media to develop awareness of the need for due respect for nature and the historic heritage.”
From Articles 24 and 25 of the Charter for historic gardens, The Florence Charter, 1982.



For the last thirty years both the Verein Roseninsel Park Wilhelmshöhe e.V. together with the department for the administration of State Palaces and Gardens have contributed to the maintenance of the rose collection in the park of the Wilhelmshöhe Palace and its presentation in the media. From 2007 onwards the collaboration has been with the “Museumslandschaft-Hessen-Kassel” which was formed by the merger of the State Museums in Kassel with the public properties belonging to the State Palaces and Gardens in Kassel. The “Museumslandschaft-Hessen-Kassel” is part of a 600 year tradition of collecting, preservation and landscaping. The princely passion for collecting and the princely desire for representation have resulted over the centuries not only in numerous and important works of art left in their historic contexts in Kassel, but also in the creation of magnificent park architecture and works of art together with an outstanding collection of bushes and trees from all over the world. The Landgraves and later the Prince Electors of Hessen-Kassel continued their passion for collecting and their permanent interest in plants. They also attracted eminent artists, architects and gardeners to the Kassel court. Friedrich II together with his court gardener, Daniel August Schwarzkopf, laid the foundation for a collection of roses in the Weissenstein Park. Schwarzkopf was one of the pioneers who introduced English landscape gardening in Germany. The “Pearl of Weissenstein” was first grown by him and is regarded as the first German cultivated rose and it still flowers today in our rosarium. Other Schwarzkopf roses are “Belle de Weissenstein”, “Pourpree de Weissenstein”, “Petit Hessoise” and “Centifolie de Hesse”. The subsequent Landgraves and the Prince Electors Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II created the park – now Park Wilhelmshöhe – and the planting of the rose garden again and again. The Prince Elector Wilhelm I had his court painter of minitures, Salomon Pinhas, record the larger part of his collection of roses on canvas.                      

The club has committed itself to maintaining the historical ideal of Daniel August Schwarzkopf's concept but analogously to extend the collection of wild and bush roses. We are proud that the “Wilhelmshöhe” rosarium with over a thousand roses has again become world famous among rose enthusiasts. The former president of the World Rose Association, David Ruston from Australia, stated it was the most romantic rosarium in the world.












Abbildungen aus Pinhas, Salomon: 134 Aquarelle Rosensammlung Wilhelmshöhe 1815.  (gebunden in der Schloßbibliothek Wilhelmshöhe.)