Kleve Historical Gardens (Historischer Gartenanlage Kleve)
Cleves was a part of the former Duchy of Jülich-Cleves-Berg ((Jülich-Kleve-Berg). In 1614, it came under de facto control of the Electorate of Brandenburg and in 1666 this was recognized legally. In the mid-17th century, the Elector granted the post of governor of Cleves to John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen (Johann Moritz Fürst von Nassau-Siegen). Shortly before his appointment, he returned from Brazil where he governed the Dutch possessions on behalf of the West India Company in the period from 1636 to 1644. Between 1653 and 1660, the Prince set out an “Italian” park with fountains and cascades in a hilly area near Cleves. It was one of the earliest Baroque parks in Europe.
The park was built by Dutch architect Jacob van Campen who created a new cultural landscape by cutting twelve long swathes through the site and setting up a large menagerie. The Amphitheater on Springenberg (Amphitheater am Springenberg) located on the main axis of the ensemble going down the hill was built “in the manner of an ancient theater” and had a semicircular gallery. Underneath, there was a canal built to connect Cleves with the Rhine, a pond, and fountains. 1653 saw the installation of a column topped with a statue of an “Iron Man”, that is, a knight (destroyed in 1794, it was recreated by sculptor Stephan Balkenhol in 2004 to mark the 400th anniversary of John Maurice). The composition of the garden incorporated the ruins, the spoils of war, and rare plants brought by the Prince from Brazil.
The mineral springs found in Cleves in 1741 turned it into a spa resort known as “Bad Cleves” (Bad Kleve). A botanic garden was laid out there in 1782, and a health resort (Kurhaus) featuring a spa hotel and a gallery (Wandelhalle) was built in 1872. Nowadays, it is known as the Museum Kurhaus Kleve.
John Maurice’s garden left a lasting impression on Peter I and his entourage members. According to the entries dated August 6/16 to 11/21, 1697 in the Travel Journal, on their way to Holland, the grand ambassadors (Peter I was travelling separately) stayed in Cleves where they noticed “the best and the highest catholic church”. Apparently, this was the St. Maria Himmelfahrt Church (St. Mariä Himmelfahrt) built in the 12th century. They also met a representative of English King William III who was the Stadholder of the Netherlands.
On May 19/29–21/31, 1698, on their way from Holland to Vienne, the grand ambassadors stayed in Cleves together with Peter I, but the Tsar arrived earlier and met them in the park, where, according to the Travel Journal, Peter viewed “the amphitheater, fountains, gazebos and alleys which were very beautiful” and “carved his name on a birch on the hill.”
In the first ten days of April 1698, the place was visited by Russian diplomat Andrey Izmaylov, the author of the literary memoirs known as The Notes of a Great Persona, who also left a description of the park.
On August 31 / September 11, 1717, Peter came round to Cleves again. This was on his way back from Holland to Russia during the Second Voyage to Europe when he traveled together with his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna.
The Park in Cleves is part of the European Garden Heritage Network.
