Asparagus Museum Beelitz

Together with the "Beelitzer Spargel" e. V. association, the town of Beelitz has set up the asparagus museum in the historic coach house in Mauerstraße. The collection, which is constantly being expanded, honours asparagus as a source and object of culinary pleasure and acquisition. The exhibition provides information on the botany of the plant, the technology and history of asparagus cultivation in Beelitz, aspects of general cultural and art history and medicine in connection with asparagus and the way of life of the people associated with asparagus. It also shows the economic importance of asparagus for the region and presents the "Beelitz Asparagus Route" tourism project. The museum's presentation bears witness to the triumphal march of the asparagus, the Asparagus, which began 2500 years ago and which also brought it to Beelitz. It has served as a motif for painters, inspired goldsmiths, porcelain makers and poets, is the subject of scientific research and even had cultic significance. The museum exhibition deliberately traces the everyday culture of people whose livelihood was largely determined by asparagus. In 1861, the Beelitz farmer Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Herrmann cultivated the first asparagus in the fields. In the 1920s and 1930s, Beelitz was the undisputed centre of asparagus cultivation in the Mark Brandenburg, with an area of 625 hectares. Today, the area around Beelitz is once again the centre of asparagus production. Asparagus is grown on around 830 hectares today.

 

^{Photo: Spargelmuseum Beelitz}