Schnell &. Steiner – författare

This beautifully illustrated book points to ways in which a sense of social responsibility can be applied in the preservation and use of historic gardens. It offers diverse international examples of the value of these cultural monuments in tackling current sustainability challenges—ranging from climate change to the contemporary relationship between humankind and nature.The spectrum of types and purposes and uses of these gardens and parks with their diverse range of functional and formal designs derives from the evolution of urban lifestyles and specific needs. Historic gardens have always been places of pleasurable interaction, education and leisurely relaxation. They are also extremely valuable from the point of view of biodiversity, providing benefits in terms of recreation, human well-being, leisure, environmental education and interdependence with the climate. As part of the cultural heritage, historic gardens can act as a stable driving force in the context of contemporary civilisation processes, helping to formulate and implement sustainable goals for action geared towards a humane outlook and lifestyle in our society. For thousands of years, the design, cultivation and preservation of gardens and cultural landscapes as fine arts and as useful arts have been among the most striking expressions of human culture. As vehicles of meaning, historic gardens are important not just aesthetically but also historically, allegorically and symbolically.

With this revised and extended new edition of Idyllic Splendour, we invite you to explore the endless variety of stately homes and parks between Lake Constance and the Baltic Sea. With more than 15,000 castles, mansions and palaces to choose from, the richly illustrated selection presented here provides a taste of the many jewels among Germany's great houses and estates.Germany is a country of palaces and castles, of abbeys, parks and gardens. They define our regions, give our cultural landscapes their unmistakable character, and create a sense of home and belonging, of regional rootedness and touristic flair. They offer leisure and regeneration; they are centres of culture and communication; and for the cultural historian they are an indispensable, tangible archive. From celestially inspired Gothic to proud Renaissance, from exultant Baroque to gardens of earthly paradise, this book presents a journey of discovery. It is a journey to enjoy, and one that may well inspire you to personally explore these worlds – the choice is overwhelming.

With this revised and extended new edition of Idyllic Splendour, we invite you to explore the endless variety of stately homes and parks between Lake Constance and the Baltic Sea. With more than 15,000 castles, mansions and palaces to choose from, the richly illustrated selection presented here provides a taste of the many jewels among Germany's great houses and estates.Germany is a country of palaces and castles, of abbeys, parks and gardens. They define our regions, give our cultural landscapes their unmistakable character, and create a sense of home and belonging, of regional rootedness and touristic flair. They offer leisure and regeneration; they are centres of culture and communication; and for the cultural historian they are an indispensable, tangible archive. From celestially inspired Gothic to proud Renaissance, from exultant Baroque to gardens of earthly paradise, this book presents a journey of discovery. It is a journey to enjoy, and one that may well inspire you to personally explore these worlds – the choice is overwhelming.