Lortzingplatz
A 2,300-square-metre garden square in the Lindenthal district, laid out by royal landscape architect Fritz Encke between 1906 and 1908 as a place of recreation for the residential quarter along Theresienstraße.
since 1908
The Lortzingplatz in Cologne's Lindenthal district is a 2,300-square-metre garden square designed by royal landscape architect Fritz Encke between 1906 and 1908. It was intended to serve the newly built residential quarter along Theresienstraße as a multifunctional space for recreation.
At a Glance
- District
- Lindenthal
- Laid out
- 1906 to 1908
- Designer
- Fritz Encke, royal landscape architect
- Area
- 2,300 square metres
- Named after
- composer Albert Lortzing
- Listed monument
- since 1 July 1980
- Zones
- playground, table tennis area and central lawn
The central part of the square, which was used as a football pitch after the Second World War, was turned back into a lawn during the 2002 restoration.
Things to do here
- Play at the playground on the north side
- Play a game at the table tennis area on the south side
- Relax on the central lawn
Area comparison
Area compared with other Cologne parks and green spaces.
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
Name and Origins
The square is named after the composer Albert Lortzing, who married Rosina Regina Ahles in Cologne on 30 January 1824. With this layout, Fritz Encke aimed to give the residential quarter – which had grown up by the early 20th century – a versatile green space for recreation, an example of his socially minded approach to park design.
Destruction and Restoration
The square was devastated during the Second World War, after which the green space became increasingly overgrown. In January 2001 the Rhenish Association for the Preservation of Monuments and Landscapes drew attention to the site and named it "Monument of the Month". In 2002 Cologne's parks department, supported by monument conservation, replanted the square for 120,000 euros and – following Encke's original design – divided it into three zones.
The Three Zones
A newly designed playground was created on the north side, while a table tennis area was set up on the slightly raised south side. The central area, which had been used as a football pitch after the war, was turned back into a lawn. Ornamental shrubs, privet hedges and flower beds were planted around the edges, along with benches for resting.
Timeline
- 1824Albert Lortzing marries Rosina Regina Ahles in Cologne on 30 January – the later namesake of the square.
- 1906Fritz Encke begins laying out the garden square.
- 1908Completion of the Lortzingplatz.
- 1980The square is designated a listed monument of the City of Cologne on 1 July.
- 2001The Rhenish Association for the Preservation of Monuments and Landscapes names the square "Monument of the Month".
- 2002Replanting by the parks department for 120,000 euros and division into three zones.
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Lortzingpl.
50931 Köln
Hours
So: 00:00–24:00
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-07-04
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