Visiting Orangerie Park
Directly across from the Palais de l'Europe (Palace of Europe) in Strasbourg, you will find a 26-hectare (64-acre) park bordering the Canal de la Marne au Rhin (Marne-Rhine Canal). Very little remains of the orange trees that gave the park its name, but the city of Strasbourg has turned this space into a favorite local spot for an afternoon walk.
History
There are two competing theories about the park's origins. One suggests the layout was designed by André le Nôtre, the famous gardener to Louis XIV. The other claims the plans were created by the engineer Antoine du Chaffat. Regardless of the truth, Orangerie Park remains the oldest park in Strasbourg.
During the French Revolution, the city acquired over a hundred orange trees confiscated from the Château de Bouxwiller. In 1804, the Pavillon Joséphine (Joséphine Pavilion) was constructed by architect Pierre-Valentin Boudhors to house them.
At the end of the 19th century, during the German period, the park was significantly expanded for the Exposition artisanale et industrielle de Strasbourg (Strasbourg Craft and Industrial Exhibition). The lake and its waterfall were created at this time.
The Pavillon Joséphine was destroyed by fire in 1968 and later rebuilt to match the original design. While the pavilion was classified as a historical monument in 1929, the entire park did not receive that designation until 1993.
Orangerie Park Today
Only three of the original orange trees remain, now carefully preserved in the park greenhouses. However, the grounds have successfully modernized.
The park houses a stork reintroduction center established in 1971. This bird is an Alsatian symbol that had nearly vanished from the local wildlife, but today, you can see them throughout the park.
Orangerie Park also features a recreation area with a mini-farm, a zoo, a bowling alley, and a children's car track. These additions complement the various playgrounds available for visitors.
It is the ideal spot for a family walk in the heart of Strasbourg.
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.