Safety concerns following damage to historic wall
The city of Groß-Gerau has announced that a section of the path along the pheasantry wall has been closed as a precautionary measure. The affected section is between Wilhelm-Hammann-Straße and the entrance/exit at Brunecker Straße.
The entrances in this area will also remain closed until further notice.
Damage to a roughly 300-year-old wall
The closure is due to damage to the historic wall. Safety risks were identified during an inspection with a structural engineer.
The approximately 300-year-old wall is bulging outwards in places. In addition, several stones have come loose from the top of the wall at one point.
According to the city, the responsible office for road construction and green spaces is working on a solution to reopen the path as quickly as possible.
Historic site with a long history
The pheasantry in Groß-Gerau was established between 1722 and 1726 as a hunting ground for the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt. At that time, pheasants, fallow deer, and red deer were among the animals kept on approximately 30 hectares.
It was only after the First World War that the area became accessible to the public and developed into a popular local recreation area.
The construction history of the wall is particularly noteworthy: Stones from the destroyed Dornberg Castle were among the materials used in its construction. The castle had been set on fire in 1689 during the War of the Palatine Succession.
Some of the stones used in the construction even come from a Roman fort dating from the first century AD, which further underlines the historical significance of the site.
