古蓮花池位(wei)于歷(li)(li)史(shi)文化名(ming)城保(bao)定市區中(zhong)心,是我國北方(fang)著名(ming)的(de)(de)古典園林之一,它歷(li)(li)經私人、官府、書院、行(xing)宮和公共園林的(de)(de)歷(li)(li)史(shi)變遷,為全國重點文物保(bao)護(hu)單位(wei),中(zhong)國最(zui)美的(de)(de)十大園林之一。
它始建(jian)于(yu)金元之交的(de)公(gong)(gong)元1227年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),原名雪香園,距今已有近800年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)歷(li)(li)史,為(wei)(wei)元代(dai)汝(ru)南王張柔元帥創(chuang)建(jian)。金末(mo)元初(chu),為(wei)(wei)張柔的(de)副帥千戶侯世(shi)親喬維(wei)忠(zhong)的(de)園地。明(ming)(ming)代(dai),為(wei)(wei)官(guan)府占(zhan)據(ju),成為(wei)(wei)達官(guan)貴人(ren)飲(yin)宴聚會的(de)樂園,曾以(yi)“水(shui)鑒(jian)公(gong)(gong)署”的(de)雅(ya)號盛稱于(yu)世(shi)。因湖中(zhong)荷花(hua)歷(li)(li)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)不衰,故(gu)明(ming)(ming)代(dai)以(yi)后稱為(wei)(wei) “古(gu)(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)”。 清雍正十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1733年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),直(zhi)隸(li)總督李衛在此修(xiu)建(jian)了(le)聞名遐邇(er)的(de)蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)書院(yuan)。乾(qian)(qian)隆十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1745年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),古(gu)(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)辟為(wei)(wei)皇帝(di)行(xing)(xing)宮(gong)。乾(qian)(qian)隆十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1749年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開(kai)始,在直(zhi)隸(li)總督方(fang)觀(guan)承的(de)主持(chi)下,古(gu)(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)做(zuo)了(le)大(da)規模的(de)改(gai)建(jian)新建(jian),形成了(le)巧奪天工、規模宏(hong)偉(wei)的(de)“蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)十二景(jing)(jing)”,即春午坡(po)、花(hua)南研(yan)北草堂、萬卷樓(lou)(lou)、高芬閣、宛虹亭、鶴(he)柴(chai)、蕊幢精(jing)(jing)舍、繹堂、藻泳樓(lou)(lou)、寒綠軒、篇留洞、含滄亭。除此之外(wai),還(huan)有直(zhi)隸(li)圖書館(guan)、牌(pai)樓(lou)(lou)、太保(bao)(bao)峰、灑然亭、聽琴樓(lou)(lou)、響琴榭、君(jun)子(zi)長生(sheng)館(guan)、昆閬院(yuan)、綠野梯橋、駐景(jing)(jing)樓(lou)(lou)、枚廊等。它融會了(le)我(wo)國古(gu)(gu)(gu)代(dai)南北造園藝術的(de)精(jing)(jing)華(hua)和(he)風(feng)格,被(bei)譽(yu)為(wei)(wei)“城(cheng)市(shi)蓬萊”。乾(qian)(qian)隆皇帝(di)一(yi)生(sheng)七次巡幸蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)行(xing)(xing)宮(gong),后為(wei)(wei)嘉慶、光緒皇帝(di)的(de)行(xing)(xing)宮(gong)和(he)慈禧(xi)太后的(de)行(xing)(xing)宮(gong)御苑。1900年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)秋,英、法、德、意四國聯軍侵入(ru)保(bao)(bao)定,園林(lin)內的(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)被(bei)焚(fen)燒殆(dai)盡,珍寶、文物(wu)被(bei)洗(xi)劫一(yi)空。1903年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),直(zhi)隸(li)總督袁世(shi)凱對(dui)園林(lin)進行(xing)(xing)了(le)恢復,但(dan)由于(yu)國庫不撥銀兩,地方(fang)財力不足,只(zhi)恢復了(le)部分(fen)景(jing)(jing)觀(guan)。新中(zhong)國成立后,古(gu)(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)得到了(le)全面保(bao)(bao)護(hu)和(he)維(wei)修(xiu)。從2002年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)至2009年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),市(shi)政府分(fen)兩期投入(ru)資金1600萬元,歷(li)(li)時八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),對(dui)古(gu)(gu)(gu)蓮(lian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)進行(xing)(xing)大(da)規模的(de)修(xiu)繕,使古(gu)(gu)(gu)老(lao)的(de)園林(lin)煥發(fa)出一(yi)片生(sheng)機。