ZOOLOGISCHER GARTEN, ELBERFELD: DIRECTORS, MESSRS. HERRMAN AND RIEMAN
The Zoological Garden in Elberfeld was founded in 1879 by a number
of citizens in the form of a company. The opening of the Garden took
place on September 17, 1881. The Garden, which has an area of about
137,641 square yards, lies in the west of Elberfeld, at the end of the
town parks adjoining some plantations. The Garden owes much of its
attraction to the beauty of the valleys and hills amongst which it is
situated, and has on this account been much frequented by artists. It
has been considered the most beautiful Garden in the whole of Germany.
The number of animals, however, is small. The main object of the Garden
is to afford the public a pleasant spot in which to amuse themselves,
and for this purpose there are frequent concerts and fairs.
The restaurant can hold 25,000 people.
* * * * *
After a long drive uphill and right out of the town in a most rickety
old cab, which I expected would come to bits every minute, I arrived at
the Garden, laid out upon the side of a hill, with a large and thick
wood in the background. Close by the entrance-gate was an enormous
concert-hall and café, with a little open-air theatre behind. Going
uphill on the left, past some very nice asphalt tennis-courts and a
duck-pond, you reach a large brown bear and wolves’ den. On a steep
bank was a herd of red deer, with some fallow deer, whilst higher up
was a pair of Barbary sheep, with a young one.
There were many pretty walks leading through beech and birch trees down
to a large boating lake. Although not rich in animals, the Garden is
picturesquely situated.
You can come back part of the way on the very cleverly constructed
Barmen-Elberfeld mono-rail, which runs all along and above the river.
Really, the Germans are up-to-date and far and away above us in
electrical transit.