In 1765, a visionary prince, Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau, collaborated with architect and art theorist Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff to develop Gartenreich Dessau-Wörlitz alongside the Elbe River. This “garden kingdom” is an exemplary model of the Enlightenment planning, showcasing a harmonious integration of art, education, and economy. (...)
In 1765, a visionary prince, Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau, collaborated with architect and art theorist Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff to develop Gartenreich Dessau-Wörlitz alongside the Elbe River. This “garden kingdom” is an exemplary model of the Enlightenment planning, showcasing a harmonious integration of art, education, and economy. These principles are manifested in the English garden-style landscape that consists of gentle and rolling hills that create scenic views scattered with neoclassical and neo-Gothic bridges, palaces, and sculptures.
When the ambitious project was completed in 1810, the extensive landscape was filled with magnificent buildings, English gardens, and subtly modified expanses of agricultural land linked by dramatic vistas and avenues. Many of the buildings that were erected are of noted influence throughout Germany. A unique structure is the Wörlitz synagogue, which is seamlessly incorporated into the landscape, resting on top of a small hill in perfect scale with the size of the structure. Prince Franz commissioned the synagogue in 1787 in proximity to the neo-Gothic Christian church, reflecting his belief in religious freedom and equality. Erdmannsdorff’s design for the synagogue was influenced by classical Roman design and a round temple was completed in 1790.
