Visiting Orangerie Park
Right across from the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg sits a 26-hectare park bordered by the canal de la Marne au Rhin. Not much remains of the orange trees that gave the site its name, but the city of Strasbourg has turned it into a prime spot for locals to stretch their legs.
History
Two theories surround the park's origins. One claims the layout was designed by André Le Nôtre, the famous gardener of Louis XIV. The other suggests the plans came from the engineer Antoine du Chaffat. Whatever the truth, Orangerie Park remains the oldest green space in Strasbourg.
During the French Revolution, the city acquired over a hundred orange trees confiscated from the château de Bouxwiller. In 1804, architect Pierre-Valentin Boudhors built the pavillon Joséphine for them.
The park was significantly expanded at the end of the 19th century during the German period for the exposition artisanale et industrielle de Strasbourg. The lake and its waterfall were dug for the occasion.
The pavillon Joséphine, entirely destroyed by a fire in 1968 and rebuilt identically, was listed as a historic monument in 1929, though the rest of the park was only designated in 1993.
Orangerie Park Today
Only 3 of the original orange trees survive, carefully guarded in the park greenhouses. Yet the park has evolved with the times.
It hosts a stork reintroduction center founded in 1971. This bird, a local symbol, had nearly vanished from the regional wildlife, but today visitors can spot them nesting throughout the park.
Orangerie Park also features a leisure area complete with a mini-farm, sports and pétanque courts, a bowling alley, and a children's car track. These add to the numerous playgrounds scattered around.
The ultimate family walk in Strasbourg.
Opening hours
| Monday | 07:00-20:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 07:00-20:00 |
| Wednesday | 07:00-20:00 |
| Thursday | 07:00-20:00 |
| Friday | 07:00-20:00 |
| Saturday | 07:00-20:00 |
| Sunday | 07:00-20:00 |
Orangerie Park is the ideal spot for a jog or a walk in the heart of Strasbourg. It is a genuine piece of preserved nature right in the middle of the city. The small lake with its rowboats, the storks perched in the trees, and the varied vegetation make the place very peaceful.
Personally, I love going for bike rides there in the morning, while it is still cool, when there are not too many people yet. You can also run into quite a few runners, because the paths are well suited for exercise.
A handy tip: if you are coming by tram, line A drops you off just a few minutes away on foot.