Rosenneuheitengarten Beutig

The Rosenneuheitengarten Beutig on the Beutig hill is an international trial garden where more than 100 new rose varieties from around the world are presented and judged every year. The Goldene Rose von Baden-Baden (Golden Rose of Baden-Baden) is one of the most important rose awards in Germany. In 2003 the garden was honoured as an excellent garden by the “World Federation of Rose Societies”. At that time only 15 other gardens worldwide held this distinction.^[1]

The Garden

The 3,000-square-metre garden lies on a slope and is divided into four large fields. Alongside the new varieties of the current season, many roses from previous years can also be admired. The central path of the garden is spanned by rose arches. In semicircular arbours stand statues of Aphrodite, Hebe and Bacchus. Admission to the garden is 2 € and is to be dropped by visitors into a box at the entrance. This contribution also acknowledges the considerable effort required to maintain the garden. Children and young people up to the age of 18 are admitted free of charge.

New Rose Competition

Every year in June, rose experts from all over the world gather to assess the new rose varieties. In total, up to 100 points can be awarded across the following categories:

• Overall impression (up to 15 points)
• Bloom and bud (up to 15 points)
• Resistance (up to 15 points)
• Fragrance (up to 15 points)
• Novelty value (up to 15 points)
• Foliage (up to 10 points)
• Charm (up to 10 points)
• Fading (up to 5 points)

Sounding Gardens – Rose Concerts on the Beutig

Every year, concerts by the Baden-Baden Philharmonic are held in the Rosengarten Beutig. Tickets can be booked through the Philharmonic. In 2026 the standard ticket costs 40 euros.

The organisers recommend bringing warm clothing and a blanket and wearing sturdy footwear. On the day of the event, visitors can obtain information about the weather decision from 6 p.m. via the hotline 07221 / 93 27 99. In bad weather the event takes place in the Weinbrennersaal of the Kurhaus (spa house).

History

The history of the new-rose competitions in Baden-Baden began in 1952 with a first competition in the Gönneranlage (park). Walter Rieger, the garden director at the time, initiated the competition, which took place under the patronage of Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. It became apparent that the space in the Gönneranlage was not sufficient for rose trials on an international scale. As a temporary measure, further trial fields were laid out on an open area of the nursery belonging to the bath and spa administration. In the course of preparations for the 1981 Landesgartenschau (state garden show), a permanent solution was sought, and the first thought was the palace garden of the Neues Schloss (New Castle), which would surely have offered a wonderful backdrop. But this idea failed because of resistance from the margravial administration. And so the Rosenneuheitengarten came to be laid out on the Beutig. Since the soil was not suitable for roses, the garden department had a one-metre-deep layer of loess loam from the Rhine plain brought in.^[2] The garden was able to open in time for the Landesgartenschau. Two years later, the 6th World Rose Convention took place in Baden-Baden. In preparation for this convention, the Rosenneuheitengarten Beutig was extended once more. In 2003 the “World Federation of Rose Societies” honoured the garden with the coveted “Award of Garden Excellence”.

Getting There and Opening Hours

The Rosenneuheitengarten Beutig is located on Moltkestraße, where there is also ample parking. A good destination to enter into the sat-nav is “Moltkestraße 3”. The rose garden can be reached by bus on line 208; the stop is called “Moltkestr./Rosengarten”. The garden is open from mid-March to mid-October, from 9 a.m. until sunset.

Sources

1. ↑ Award of Garden Excellence on the website of the World Federation of Rose Societies
2. ↑ Bernd Weigel Parkführer Baden-Baden. Die Gärten und Kuranlagen im Oostal. 2nd edition, Wesel-Kommunikation, Baden-Baden 2003, ISBN 3-00-010770-3.