Where responsibility takes root

The future is being cultivated in Thuringia's inclusive gardens - ecologically, socially and quite naturally.

Gardens are never just scenery. They show how we approach nature – and each other. There are parks and gardens in Thuringia where inclusion and sustainable maintenance are not packaged as a concept but practised on a daily basis. Places where people with and without disabilities work, learn, cook and create – across generations and without anyone batting an eyelid. Visitors to these gardens experience more than just historical expanses of greenery or well-tended flowerbeds. They encounter an attitude. And become part of a cycle of appreciation, work and responsibility. Wer diese Gärten besucht, erlebt nicht nur historische Anlagen oder gepflegte Beete. Er begegnet einer Haltung. Und wird Teil eines Kreislaufs aus Wertschätzung, Arbeit und Verantwortung.

Landgut Holzdorf – Sustainability in harmony with the seasons

People with different biographies live and work together on the listed Landgut Holzdorf estate. Products are created by hand between fruit trees, workshops and garden areas: vegetables from the estate’s own harvest, along with jams, ceramics and woodwork. The park is open to the public. Anyone taking a stroll here can listen to the bird calls – and the quiet clinking of tools. Sustainability is not shown in grand gestures, but in constant action: maintaining instead of replacing, repairing instead of discarding, growing instead of buying. Visitors to the cafeteria or the LandgutLädchen shop can see what is created on site. Every purchase supports qualification, meaningful work and the preservation of this historic site. The estate is not a showroom, but a living organism – open to guests for guided tours and celebrations.

Waltershausen Sensory Garden – Nature as orientation and a symbol of dignity

The garden is part of everyday life at the Geizenberg nursing home in Waltershausen, an institution for people with dementia. Paths are designed for safety. Medicinal herbs exude familiar fragrances. A Kneipp water garden is a place for playful movement. The Sensory Garden is open not only to residents, but also to relatives and visitors. It is a place to experience nature – by touching, smelling and listening. Time is structured by seasons, while familiar paths provide orientation. Sustainability here means more than just ecological tending. It is evident in a mindful approach to memory and life history. A walk through this garden is quiet – and touching at the same time.

Park Café Schloss Molsdorf – Hospitality among equals

Lebenshilfe runs a truly sociable café in the historic ambience of Molsdorf Castle. Employees with and without disabilities are assigned to service, learn workflows and develop routines. A visit is pleasantly relaxed for guests: coffee, cake and conversation in the castle park. But behind the everyday routines lies an inclusive working environment that enables qualification and strengthens participation. Visitors to the café enjoy more than just regional specialities – they also support a place where work proceeds at a human pace.

Restaurant Caponniere & Pulverhütte in egapark Erfurt - Travelling without barriers

Two forms of inclusion are evident at the heart of egapark Erfurt. People with disabilities work in the kitchen and service area at the Restaurant Caponniere. Quality is front and centre for the guests – regional products, a set table, a friendly word. The fact that inclusion is practised here seems self-evident. Not far from there, the barrier-free "Pulverhütte" Guest House offers genuinely accessible accommodation. Wide entrances, cleverly designed facilities, enough space – details that allow families, groups or travellers with assistance needs to stay overnight in the park without long explanations. Accessibility is not emphasised here. It is assumed.

A visit with an impact

The way we design gardens says a lot about how we perceive society. Spaces are being created in Thuringia where participation is self-evident and care means more than preservation. The future here is not mapped out, but practised every day – in manual work, in cooperation, in an open welcome. Every visit provides concrete support for this work. And reminds us that sustainable cultural landscapes are created where people take responsibility – for each other and for nature.

Cover: Landgut Holzdorf ©Florian Trykowski, Thüringer Tourismus GmbH