VIII. Gay Games Cologne 2010

The Japanese garden in Leverkusen

Industrial plants seldom show an ideal image, especially when they’re old and still in use. The Bayer-plants in the South of Leverkusen show that this can also be definitively different.  Especially for chemical plants you think of sterility and pure efficiency. Not in these plants. Surprisingly much architectural beauty, vast expanse and green spaces characterize the parts of the area accessible to the public. A very special treasure of the plant is the Japanese garden that was ordered by Prof. Dr. Carl Duisenberg way back in 1912. In this park, East-Asian plants dominate the ponds, small magical streams, and pagodas. Wherever you look, you will see little miracles like wooden bridges, far-eastern statues and sculptures which Duisenberg himself brought back from his trips to the Far East. The first CEO of the Bayer-plants who was passionate about Asian cultures made a very special gift to his co-workers and the inhabitants of the city of Leverkusen with this garden. This park offers the visitors a short trip to Far Eastern worlds and manifold impressions that you can get here, have for over 100 years, have given a special wellness experience, this, before one even knew the concept of wellness.

http://www.lev2000.de/guide/index.php?view=00053