100 YEARS OF MARIMURTRA & THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF CARL FAUST

This year, 2024, is really special for the Marimurtra Botanical Garden because we celebrate that 100 years ago Marimurtra started to come together. On this blackboard there are the most notable facts of the trajectory of the Garden and a timeline. For those who want to know more, don’t miss the summary of this history: 

Carl Faust, the businessman and entrepreneur, was born on the 10th of September, 1974, in Hadamar (Germany). From a very young age, he showed a great passion for botany and natural sciences. His childhood home was very close to the Palmengarten botanical garden and the Senckenberg Natural History Museum. He was very curious about his surroundings, and at age 11, he started collecting and studying plant species. His professors recognized his natural talent and strong interest in nature and recommended to his parents that he study natural sciences. Unfortunately, being the oldest of six siblings, he had to take a different career path. His father persuaded him to enter the business industry in order to have the means to take care of the rest of the family.

He started his studies in commerce, and with his father’s contacts, he was able to start as an apprentice with Mr. Besthorn in Frankfurt until he had to enlist for military service. Afterwards, he continued studying at the Commerce School of the Frankfurt Businessmen’s Association and combined his studies with a paid internship at Mr. Besthorn’s business. In 1987, he obtained his degree in commerce. That same year, an amazing opportunity arose that changed his life. Herr Pütz offered him a position at Körting Gebrüder because a new delegation was being established in Barcelona. The young 23-year-old Carl Faust accepted the offer, moved to Spain, and began working as a commercial agent. Körting Gebrüder was a supplier and installer of machinery and products for heating and steam installations. He worked for the company until he resigned in 1908 and started his own business with Wilhelm Kammann, known as “Faust y Kammann” (FyK), which still exists today.

His efforts were rewarded, and the business partners managed to expand the enterprise and amass a fortune. With his capital, Faust began buying land in both Germany and Catalonia, as well as several houses. It wasn’t until 1918 that he came across an abandoned farmland in Blanes that inspired him. He bought the land to build a botanical garden with plants from arid and tropical climates so that young researchers from Northern and Central Europe could study them and conduct experiments. Faust continued working at FyK until 1924, when he decided to pursue his passion and build the botanical garden of his dreams with his own hands. The business partners agreed to sell the company’s assets. Wilhelm Kammann bought all the stock and became the CEO of Faust y Kammann, while Carl Faust focused on the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. Knowing he couldn’t do it alone, he contacted many talented landscapers, botanists, gardeners, and architects of the time, such as Wilhelm Narberhaus, Zenon Schreiber, Pius Font i Quer, Erik Svensson, Josias Braun-Blanquet, Hans Krainz, Josep Cuatrecasas, and Josep Goday.

After some years, the relationship between the old friends began to withstand differences and difficulties, but the business continued to thrive. In fact, it reached its peak by developing its own patents, such as mechanisms for purifying condensed water and tools for opening canned goods. There is evidence that Faust continued to review the financial statements and provide consulting services for the company. However, as time passed, he gradually detached from it.

Numerous expeditions and travels were required to collect botanical specimens for Marimurtra and allowed Faust to build his network with research centers. The founder traveled to Central Europe shortly before the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) began. During this time, he was not allowed to cross the border and was kept apart from his garden. Against all odds, the garden survived freezing temperatures, bombings, lack of resources, and troop occupation. Once Faust returned to Spain, World War II (1939–1945) broke out, putting both the garden and Carl Faust on edge. He moved from Barcelona to Blanes to be present at the garden every day and assist his workers. Furthermore, worried about Marimurtra’s future, Faust tried to establish a foundation in Switzerland to ensure the continuity of his creation but failed after 10 years of legal battles.

Once the war was over, he had the opportunity to travel, expand his network, and develop the garden. He also promoted and funded research studies with young researchers who visited the garden and accompanied him, making the last years of his life memorable and joyful.

He continued enjoying and working on Marimurtra until he began to fall very ill in 1950, when he decided it was finally time to move into the house he had built within the garden. In 1951, after a health scare and realizing that the garden lacked a foundation, he decided to establish the Carl Faust Foundation with an international board to ensure the garden’s longevity and proper management. From that point forward, he officially retired, and his health gradually deteriorated until he passed away on April 24, 1952.

Despite everything, the foundation and the garden continued to progress. Over time, and thanks to the dedication of many people, it has become one of the most important botanical gardens in Europe, with close to 4,000 different species and high biodiversity. Currently, the garden benefits from sustainable management and is a pioneer in the field of plant conservation. The garden is viewed as an ecosystem rather than just a plant collection, and with the goal of increasing its biodiversity, no synthetic chemicals are used. 

Thus, 100 years after its inception, Marimurtra is today a leading institution in plant conservation and scientific outreach, hosting research projects related to the conservation of endangered species and pest control.