Tropical feelings abound in this covered green space in England. The Eden Project shows visitors the beauty of this special biotope with the largest rainforest in Europe. Part 2 of our Extreme Places series.
Colorful biodiversity: more than 100,000 plants attract visitors to the facility in south-west England
It is uncertain whether the biblical Garden of Eden ever existed. It is said to have been a green paradise, a place where people lived in harmony with nature. Today that vision seems to have become a reality in the south of England. In the county of Cornwall you will find it: the Garden of Eden of the present. It took six years to bring the Eden Project to life – to turn a wasteland where clay was once mined into a fertile oasis. 50 hectares were planted with around 100,000 plants from all over the world. This is how replicas of biotopes from different climatic zones of the earth were created: the natural landscapes of the world in miniature.
Sophisticated architecture for plants from all over the world
Worth seeing from the outside: Plants from different climate zones thrive in these extraordinary greenhouses
Two dome-shaped greenhouses span part of the site. They look like big soap bubbles glued together. Stable climatic conditions prevail inside. The lush vegetation unfolds under the honeycombed hexagons made of plastic foil. The self-supporting structures are up to 50 meters high and 240 meters wide. Gigantic constructions that still appear filigree. The larger of the two greenhouses houses the largest indoor rainforest in the world. At tropical temperatures, mangroves, rubber trees, ferns and banana trees grow here on an area of 16,000 square meters. A dense jungle that visitors can explore from a path.
Among palm trees, orchids and cocoa trees
That's exactly what DW reporter Hendrik Welling did. For the “Europa maxximal” series in the lifestyle and culture magazine “Euromaxx”, he immersed himself in the green thicket, discovered exotic plants up close and was told the story of this extraordinary project. And he experienced the enormous importance of the rainforests around the world for our climate. Go exploring with him in our video!
Anyone who wants can do the same as our reporter and learn everything about the valuable rainforest biotope in the Eden Project. Because the facility is not an amusement park. It sees itself as an educational center and environmental organization. The idea: only those who experience the beauty of nature and deal with it can also protect it. A concern that seems more pressing now than ever.
Service Tips:
Address: Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL 24 2SG, England
How to get there: From London by train to St Austell, from there take the 101 bus.
Opening hours: daily 9.45am-4pm or 9.15am-6pm, closed for maintenance on select days.
Price: adults from £29.50, children from £10
The special tip: Every summer there are concerts with well-known musicians from all over the world on selected evenings in the Eden Project. The greenhouse domes are then atmospherically illuminated.
The book of the series
Europe from its extreme side: The “Europe maxximal” series in the lifestyle and culture magazine “Euromaxx” makes European superlatives come alive – from extraordinary architecture and spectacular landscapes to unique cultural phenomena. Accompanying the series is the book “111 extreme places that you have to see”, created in cooperation with Emons Verlag. An alternative travel guide, informative and entertaining at the same time. For those who love to travel, Europe fans and anyone who likes to brag about unusual party knowledge. Record-breaking good!