Federal Horticultural Show 2011

The Federal Horticultural Show 2011 (German: Bundesgartenschau 2011) was held from 15 April to 16 October 2011 in Koblenz, Germany. It was the first Federal Horticultural Show in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Venues had been the plateau in front of the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the square in front of the Electoral Palace and flower beds in the area around the Deutsches Eck. One of its attractions was the cable car over the Rhine, which was established as an ecologically sound transport connection. It connects the Rhine shores near the Basilica of St. Kastor with the plateau in front of the fortress. Unlike previous garden shows, the staging area in Koblenz was mainly in the centre of the city and directly affected the local population. In addition to the prestige of hosting a Federal Horticultural Show, Koblenz benefited to a much greater extent from the associated urban development.

In 2001/2002, Koblenz applied to be a venue for a Federal Horticultural Show in 2013 or 2015. Duisburg had been awarded the show for 2011, but it withdrew from its commitment. In January 2004, the National Gardening Association (Zentralverband Gartenbau, ZVG) awarded the 2011 event to Koblenz. After discussions with the state of Rhineland-Palatinate on the financing of the project, the City Council made a final commitment on 27 January 2005 to host the Federal Garden Show in 2011.

The total budget had been expected to amount to € 102 million, of which € 49 million had been provided by the state and € 28 million by the city of Koblenz. The rest of the funds were to be raised from sponsorship and from the entry fees of the expected attendance of at least two million visitors. By the summer of 2007, ideas had been sought and a preliminary plan had been completed. The ground breaking ceremony was celebrated in the city at the Electoral Palace on 20 July 2008, 999 days before the start of the National Garden Festival.

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