古(gu)蓮花池位于歷(li)史文化名(ming)(ming)城(cheng)保定市區中(zhong)心,是我國(guo)北方(fang)著名(ming)(ming)的(de)古(gu)典(dian)園林(lin)之一,它歷(li)經(jing)私人(ren)、官府、書院、行宮和公共園林(lin)的(de)歷(li)史變(bian)遷,為全(quan)國(guo)重(zhong)點文物保護(hu)單(dan)位,中(zhong)國(guo)最美的(de)十大園林(lin)之一。
它(ta)始建(jian)(jian)(jian)于金元(yuan)(yuan)之交的(de)(de)(de)公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)1227年(nian)(nian)(nian),原名(ming)雪香園(yuan),距今已有近800年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)歷史,為元(yuan)(yuan)代(dai)汝南(nan)王張柔元(yuan)(yuan)帥創建(jian)(jian)(jian)。金末(mo)元(yuan)(yuan)初,為張柔的(de)(de)(de)副帥千戶(hu)侯世親喬(qiao)維(wei)忠(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)園(yuan)地。明(ming)代(dai),為官(guan)府(fu)占(zhan)據,成(cheng)為達官(guan)貴人飲宴聚會的(de)(de)(de)樂園(yuan),曾(ceng)以“水(shui)鑒(jian)公(gong)署”的(de)(de)(de)雅(ya)號盛稱于世。因湖中荷花(hua)歷年(nian)(nian)(nian)不衰,故(gu)明(ming)代(dai)以后(hou)(hou)稱為 “古(gu)蓮(lian)(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)”。 清雍正十一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1733年(nian)(nian)(nian)),直(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)隸總(zong)(zong)督(du)李衛(wei)在(zai)(zai)此修建(jian)(jian)(jian)了(le)(le)(le)(le)聞名(ming)遐邇的(de)(de)(de)蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)書院。乾(qian)隆(long)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1745年(nian)(nian)(nian)),古(gu)蓮(lian)(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)辟為皇(huang)帝(di)行(xing)宮。乾(qian)隆(long)十四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1749年(nian)(nian)(nian))開始,在(zai)(zai)直(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)隸總(zong)(zong)督(du)方觀承的(de)(de)(de)主持下,古(gu)蓮(lian)(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)做了(le)(le)(le)(le)大規(gui)模(mo)(mo)的(de)(de)(de)改建(jian)(jian)(jian)新建(jian)(jian)(jian),形成(cheng)了(le)(le)(le)(le)巧奪天工、規(gui)模(mo)(mo)宏偉的(de)(de)(de)“蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)十二景”,即春午坡(po)、花(hua)南(nan)研北(bei)草堂、萬卷樓、高芬(fen)閣、宛虹亭、鶴柴、蕊幢(chuang)精舍、繹堂、藻泳樓、寒綠軒(xuan)、篇留洞、含滄亭。除此之外,還有直(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)隸圖書館(guan)、牌(pai)樓、太保(bao)峰(feng)、灑然亭、聽琴(qin)樓、響琴(qin)榭、君子長生(sheng)館(guan)、昆閬院、綠野(ye)梯橋、駐景樓、枚廊等。它(ta)融(rong)會了(le)(le)(le)(le)我(wo)國古(gu)代(dai)南(nan)北(bei)造園(yuan)藝術的(de)(de)(de)精華和風格,被譽為“城市(shi)蓬萊”。乾(qian)隆(long)皇(huang)帝(di)一生(sheng)七次巡幸(xing)蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)行(xing)宮,后(hou)(hou)為嘉慶、光(guang)緒皇(huang)帝(di)的(de)(de)(de)行(xing)宮和慈禧太后(hou)(hou)的(de)(de)(de)行(xing)宮御苑。1900年(nian)(nian)(nian)秋,英、法、德、意四(si)國聯軍侵(qin)入(ru)保(bao)定,園(yuan)林內的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑被焚燒殆盡,珍寶(bao)、文物(wu)被洗劫(jie)一空。1903年(nian)(nian)(nian),直(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)隸總(zong)(zong)督(du)袁(yuan)世凱對(dui)園(yuan)林進行(xing)了(le)(le)(le)(le)恢(hui)復,但由于國庫不撥銀(yin)兩(liang),地方財(cai)力不足,只(zhi)恢(hui)復了(le)(le)(le)(le)部分景觀。新中國成(cheng)立后(hou)(hou),古(gu)蓮(lian)(lian)花(hua)池(chi)(chi)得到了(le)(le)(le)(le)全面保(bao)護和維(wei)修。從2002年(nian)(nian)(nian)至2009年(nian)(nian)(nian),市(shi)政府(fu)分兩(liang)期(qi)投入(ru)資金1600萬元(yuan)(yuan),歷時八年(nian)(nian)(nian),對(dui)古(gu)蓮(lian)(lian)池(chi)(chi)進行(xing)大規(gui)模(mo)(mo)的(de)(de)(de)修繕,使古(gu)老(lao)的(de)(de)(de)園(yuan)林煥發出一片生(sheng)機。