Spatial and ideological transformation of the Abbots’ Garden in Oliwa in the 18th century

Abstract

Ever since the Medieval era, Cistercian monasteries have been the centres of architecture, horticulture, art and craft. Their abbeys were also distinguished by a rich theological program. Within the larger monastic complexes, the abbot occupied a representative building, surrounded by an ornamental garden. In the 15th century, the Abbot’s Palace was erected at the Abbey in Oliwa, which had been founded in 1178. The abbot’s seat was repeatedly expanded by successive abbots, including Kasper Geschkau, Dawid Konarski, Jan Grabiński, Aleksander Kęsowski, and Franciszek Zaleski. Józef Jacek Rybiński in particular made some notable achievements, including building a new Rococo palace surrounded by a Baroque garden, which was characterised by a rich program referring to Christian symbolism. After 1772, Cistercian goods and properties were confiscated by Prussia. In 1782, Prince Karl von Hohenzollern-Hechingen, and then his nephew Prince Joseph, became the new abbots. With the help of the gardener Johann Georg Saltzmann, Prince Karl enlarged the garden with a new English- Chinese section with a rich Oriental program. The article presents the history of the garden, the evolution of its ideological program and layout, the landscape values of the former monastery complex as well as its contemporary resources.