Described here: the towns of Bad Muskau and Forst are 30 kilometers apart. Schloss Kromlau with picturesque Rakotzbücke is in the next town, a few kilometers from away Bad Muskau. Visiting all of these places should take just a day and create a nature consistent trip.
Bad Muskau - The Park of Fürst Pückler
This masterpiece of landscape design is a UNESCO World Heritage site. An enormous park, spanning across two countries was designed to be a place of relaxation and contemplation. The park is full of surprises, such as: hidden paths, artificial lakes, a lot of bridges and a beautiful castle. One could without a double spend there a full day. The park is well maintained, and the entrance fee to the castle museum is inexpensive, considering how interesting and modern the museum really is. Inside the castle museum there is a small cafe, a ticket office, a gift shop and three stories of exhibition space, featuring a lot of multimedia, interactive displays, a love letter machine and a small cart track for everybody, even the adults. The museum is entirely available in three languages: German, Polish, and English. The best time to visit the park is in the summer, when everything is green and welcoming.
The Greenery of the Park
During the museum visit, one can learn about the life of the prince, his travels, and his ideas about the park. It is astonishing to see that Pückler’s original view of the park is still preserved to the very last detail. After prince’s death, the park was taken over by the family of his wife, and later by the German state. During these times, the park was improved and expanded. Though it was heavily damaged during the Second World War, it was restored to its former glory in the 1960s, and in 2004 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
A brief view on the Rosengarten of Forst
The Rosengarten - the rose garden of Forst is a beautiful park in the town of Forst. I would recommend visiting it in the summer when the roses are in full bloom. Outside of the blooming season no entry fee is charged, and it is still a nice place to visit, but the roses are the main attraction. The park is well maintained and has a nice atmosphere. The visit should take no more than 1 hour. Inside the park, there is a restaurant and a ticket office with a small local goods shop. There is a free parking lot right across the street from the park.
Enjoy the view of the topiary columns, their shapes are tailored to perfection. Three times the height of a normal person, they are a real eye-catcher.
The Rakotzbrücke
The Rakotzbrücke is a picturesque bridge in the town of Kromlau, a few kilometers from Bad Muskau. The bridge is a popular tourist attraction, often crowded. The bridge is a perfect semicircle made out of stone, and it creates a perfect reflection in the water. The bridge dates back to the 19th century. The bridge is located in a rododendron park.
