The former amphitheatre at the Citadel in Poznań is set to be filled with flowers. In place of the abandoned auditorium, a terraced honey garden is being created, welcoming to both walkers and pollinating insects. The site is currently being prepared; some steps have already been installed, and the first trees and shrubs will be planted later this year.
Fort Winiary in Poznań
Before the walking paths were laid out and the flowerbeds planted at the Citadel, the site was occupied by Fort Winiary, the main element of the Prussian Poznań Fortress from the first half of the 19th century. In 1945, fierce fighting took place here between the German defenders and the Red Army, causing significant damage to the fort and the nearby Old Town. In the 1960s, work began on transforming the ruined Citadel into a public park. A team led by Czesław Rodziewicz worked on its creation, and the designers included Jan Węcławski and Zbigniew Bednarowicz. The remains of the fortifications and the uneven terrain were utilised to create a landscape full of escarpments, depressions and green slopes. An open-air stage was built in one such spot.
The amphitheatre at the Citadel and its history
The Summer Theatre, known as the amphitheatre at the Citadel, was built in 1968 in the north-eastern part of the park, in the area of Na Stoku and Na Szańcach Streets. The semi-circular auditorium made use of a dip in the ground where the old fortifications once stood, whilst the terraces sloping down towards the stage accommodated the audience for summer events. Concerts, stage performances and festivals attracted the people of Poznań, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. Over time, events became fewer and fewer, the infrastructure aged, and the abandoned benches and overgrown steps made the venue less and less inviting. Over the following years, the site remained unused. Now, its terraced layout will be used to create a garden.
Construction of a honey garden in Poznań
The shape of the future garden is already visible on site. The contractor is creating terraces for planting, whilst the installed steps provide access between all levels. A second, symmetrical row will be built on the opposite side of the former auditorium. In addition, workers are cleaning and repairing the wall at the top of the structure. The water and electricity connections are in place, as is the surface of the path running above the auditorium. The first trees and shrubs will be planted here later this year. A separate task will be the conservation of the Ravelin IV wall, the remains of a 19th-century fort. As the site is listed on the register of historic monuments, the works must comply with the conditions of the conservation permit.
The amphitheatre at the Citadel is being transformed into flower terraces
The garden will feature ten plant terraces, two of which will be equipped with footpaths. The layout has been divided into 14 sectors, and the colours of the flowers are intended to gradually transition from light, delicate tones to darker and more saturated shades. In total, there will be over 11,000 plants and more than 80 species of perennials, including sage, lavender, coneflowers, asters, geraniums, delphiniums and foxgloves. These will be complemented by spireas, weigelas, barberries and dogwoods. Thanks to the shrubs, the garden will retain its varied appearance even outside the flowering season. From the former viewing area, visitors will be able to admire the multicoloured flowerbeds, whose appearance will change with the seasons.
A garden for walkers and insects
The flowers will provide insects with nectar and pollen, and their arrangement in the flowerbeds is designed to make it easier for bees to access the available food. Rest areas with benches, educational panels and viewing terraces will be created for visitors. The layout will be complemented by a water cascade, and the restored brick wall will be illuminated. Poznań Municipal Investments is responsible for the project, which is being carried out on behalf of the Municipal Greenery Authority and funded from the city’s budget. According to the current schedule, the works are due to last until the second quarter of 2027. The former auditorium will therefore once again be a reason to stop off in this part of the Citadel, this time whilst strolling amongst the flowers.
Source: Poznań Municipal Investments
See also:Ecology|Metamorphosis|Greenery|Renovation|Flower meadows|Poznań
