Kromlau Park has become a magnet for visitors - season starts

Although there is no official start to the season at Kromlau Rhododendron Park, more and more visitors are expected to visit the East Saxon municipality of Gablenz in the coming weeks. "There will be a lot going on from Easter at the latest," said Mandy Klau, the tourist information officer responsible for marketing.

In recent years, more and more active vacationers from Poland and the Czech Republic have discovered Kromlau for themselves. Some guests have traveled from far away just for the Rakotzbrücke bridge over the lake of the same name.

As the park is free of charge and accessible all year round, it is difficult to determine exact visitor numbers, she said. However, it is noticeable that day visitors are now coming all year round and the season has been extended into the cold season. There is a particularly large crowd every year at Whitsun in Kromlau, when the park and flower festival is traditionally celebrated. The municipality expects a total of 15,000 to 20,000 guests over the three days of the event alone.

Bridge must not be entered

Kromlau gained international fame after a picture of the Rakotzbrücke bridge was chosen as the winning image in a photo competition in 2016. According to Klau, the number of visitors has increased significantly since then. The structure made of basalt and field stones spans the lake with a length of 35 meters. The reflection on the surface of the water makes the arch appear as a full circle.

Between 2018 and 2021, the previously dilapidated bridge was renovated as part of the entire ensemble on Lake Rakotzsee. The listed structure is not allowed to be entered. Rangers are out and about in the park to ensure that visitors adhere to the ban, says Klau. Depending on the weather, water has to be pumped into the lake regularly to compensate for evaporation.

Kromlau Park was created in the middle of the 19th century. The landowner at the time, Friedrich Hermann Rötschke (1805 - 1893), is said to have taken inspiration from the nearby Muskauer Park. The grounds in Kromlau cover around 200 hectares, where open-air azaleas and rhododendrons bloom from May until June.