Cyclists and runners celebrate reunion: an unforgettable day on the BUGA route!

Cyclists and runners celebrate reunion: an unforgettable day on the BUGA route!

Cyclists and runners recently celebrated a happy reunion full of memories and sporting enthusiasm on the Federal Garden Show Route (BUGA). Organized by Detlev Voigt, they knew how to celebrate the sense of community in the Buga towns. Voigt was very positive about the friendly reception that the participants at the Brandenburg Roland received from Sybille Steinhäuser and Johannes Braun from the sports office. The team took care of their physical well-being with delicious fruit such as bananas and melons as well as non-alcoholic beer.

Despite the challenges posed by the wind in decorating the destination with standees and flags, organizers were not discouraged. The uncomplicated atmosphere was also characterized by the choice of vehicles: there were no e-bikes to be found among the more than a dozen bicycles. A runner accompanied the group at the start in Havelberg before the cyclists were allowed to set their own pace. We continued to Rhinow, where a guide took the athletes off the beaten track.

The path to the goal

After a relaxing meal in Rathenow, the participants ran the last 34 kilometers. Lars Heider and Ralph Labuda didn't let themselves be stopped and, after a short stop in Pritzerbe, were among the fastest with a few fast cyclists. There was great news for the organizers: the city sports association's support vehicle was not needed because there were no health problems or breakdowns. Only chief organizer Udo Pfeiffer sustained a small injury to his arm on a branch, but that couldn't change the good mood.

The Old Town Hall in Brandenburg was the final destination where Steinhäuser and Braun awaited the athletes. Before everyone went back home to the couch, souvenir photos were taken in front of the entrance to the city administration and at Roland. Moment by moment was captured so that participants can look back on a wonderful event.

A look at the BUGA

What makes the Federal Garden Show so special? An insightful historical foray shows that this horticultural exhibition occupies an important place in German culture. The first BUGA took place in Hanover in 1951, and since then it has developed into a major event that takes place every two years in various cities. An impressive attendance of 2.2 million was recorded for BUGA 2023 in Mannheim, while the highest record was set in Munich in 1983 with 11.5 million visitors. Further BUGAs are already planned for the future, e.g. in 2027 in the Ruhr area and in 2029 in the World Heritage Cultural Landscape Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

The path of the Federal Garden Show is also a testimony to the development of German garden history and the encounter with great garden architects, as impressively presented in the work “My Heart is My Garden” by Sabine Frank. Whether through the patronage of the Federal President or the support of associations such as the Central Horticultural Association, the BUGA remains an important part of the German gardening tradition.

For all passionate gardeners and nature lovers, one thing is clear: BUGA not only offers a platform for creative garden art, but also a space for encounters and memories that will live on long after the last visit.

For more information about the BUGA and its history you can read the articles from Meeting point Brandenburg, Federal Garden Show and Wikipedia see.