Palm House Gliwice
Medals available for purchase at the Gliwice Palm House – from a vending machine!
The history of the Gliwice Palm House dates back to 1880 when the first exhibition greenhouses were built in the newly forming city park.
However, the dynamic development of the facility began in 1924 with a grand exhibition of exotic plants, including a collection of palm trees. Three of these palms – Canary Island date palms – still grow in the historic pavilion today. In 1925, the first large pool in Silesia with a capacity of 120 m³ of water was opened for one of the world’s largest aquatic plants – Victoria regia. From then on, numerous plants from the Amazon could be admired. Terrariums and cages for exotic animals were built. Visitors marveled at aquariums with colorful fish, frogs, and turtles. Similarly, in the aviary, Brazilian parrots reigned among many birds. The rapid growth in the number of plants and the increasing size of the palms necessitated the expansion of the Palm House.
In 1935, a 12-meter-high greenhouse covering 504 m² was built, becoming the main exhibition pavilion. The cactus house was enlarged, and additional aquariums were added. Director Riedel – a plant enthusiast, botanist, and skilled organizer – made an invaluable contribution to this development. Along with the investments, visitor numbers grew. In 1926, the Palm House welcomed about 8,000 visitors, and by 1936, this number had risen to 30,000. Together with the surrounding park, the Palm House – along with the downtown promenades (now Friendship Avenue) and the landscape complex of Wilhelm Park (now Chrobry Park) – served as “green lungs” among the mines, steelworks, and industrial plants. The Palm House was not spared from war damage.
In January 1945, the facilities were almost completely destroyed. Shattered windows, a non-functioning boiler room, and freezing temperatures caused the loss of nearly the entire plant collection. Thanks to the efforts of Engineer Krzeczewski and the Palm House staff, the facility reopened to visitors in October 1947. At that time, it covered 1,400 m², housed about 600 plant species, 28 aquariums, a year-round heated water pool, and a large rock garden.
Some specimens were brought to Gliwice from abandoned post-war estates in Lower Silesia. Many plants were purchased or donated by private collectors. By the 1970s, the plant collection had grown to 8,000 specimens.
The deteriorating technical condition of the buildings and increasing safety risks forced the decision to close the Palm House in 1985. A complete modernization of all greenhouses was undertaken while preserving the plants. The enclosure method was used – first, the structures and shells of the new pavilions were erected, and then the old greenhouses were dismantled.
The Palm House’s area expanded to about 2,000 m², with the tallest pavilion reaching 22 meters – ensuring continued growth for the palms, three of which have been with the people of Gliwice since 1924.
