The history of the pheasantry
The Fasanerie has a long history: once the hunting grounds of the dukes, then a summer residence, later a public park. Today it is a unique place where nature and history come together.
The history of the Fasanerie - from a ducal park to an animal and nature paradise
The history of the pheasantry begins in 1749, when it was established as a hunting ground with pheasant breeding. Pheasant breeding was discontinued as early as 1775, but the park was preserved as a scenic jewel. In the 19th century, a fundamental redesign took place: the pheasantry changed from a baroque park style to an English landscape park with curved paths, soft woodland edges, ponds and visual axes. These design principles still characterize the grounds today.
The first cultivation experiments with foreign tree species such as sequoias, Douglas firs and Weymouth pines were already undertaken at this time - a tradition that continued in the 20th century with the creation of a tree nature trail. In 1935, the Nassau Nature Conservation Association created the arboretum, which is still preserved today and was supplemented with new trees and signage in 2007.
An important milestone was the opening of the zoo in 1956, when the pheasantry officially became an animal and plant park. Under the management of forester Walter Schmidt and his deputy Erich Koridaß, the first animal enclosures were created between 1959 and 1966. This development made the park an important educational and recreational site for the region.
From 1995, park manager Ute Kilian and her deputy, animal keeper Klaus Schüßler, pushed ahead with new projects. In 2003, they began working with the renowned zoo planner Monika Fiby, who further developed the pheasantry with modern concepts. With the development concepts of 2005 and 2017, the park was adapted to new requirements. The focus was on both the welfare of the animals and their integration into the historic park landscape.
Today, the enclosures are designed in such a way that visitors can experience the animals as close to nature as possible. Several viewing points, such as the fox-badger tunnel, increase the chances of exciting observations. Rabbits and guinea pigs can be viewed through peepholes or up close from a box. In 2010, the wild cats were given a new, quiet enclosure on a side path.
A 1,500-metre circular path leads through the pheasantry and has been optimized since 2005 so that it is also suitable for baby carriages with a maximum gradient of 10%. Additional path connections allow shortcuts and serve as service paths. Visitors can find peace and quiet at sheltered shelters along the paths while observing the animals - always with the forest as a "protective landscape" in the background.
Today, the Wiesbaden Pheasantry is not only a place to relax, but also a living nature experience that conveys knowledge about animals, plants and landscaping in a unique way.
Visitors are not just spectators - they are guests in the habitat of the animals.
