Parc de l'Orangerie, Strasbourg (must see)

The Parc de l'Orangerie is a public park situated in Strasbourg. Positioned across from the Palais de l'Europe and in proximity to the other European establishments within the Orangerie district, part of the Neustadt area, it spans an expanse of 26 hectares.

Historical accounts differ regarding the origins of Parc de l'Orangerie. Some assert that it was planted in 1801 following designs by André Le Nôtre, while others argue that in 1735, the plan titled "Plan de Strasbourg" was conceived by the captain engineer Antoine du Chaffat.

During the period of the French Revolution, the city of Strasbourg came into possession of a hundred and forty orange trees seized from the Château de Bouxwiller by the Republicans. In 1804, the current Joséphine pavilion, named in honor of Joséphine de Beauharnais (Empress of the French and Napoleon Bonaparte's wife), was erected by Pierre-Valentin Boudhors to house these trees.

The Parc de l'Orangerie underwent significant expansion during the German era, coinciding with the industrial and artisanal exhibition in Strasbourg in 1895. This was when the artificial lake and its accompanying waterfall were created. The park became an integral part of the Neustadt. In 1929, the Joséphine pavilion was officially recognized as a historical monument, while the entire park received this designation in 1993.

A fire in 1968 ravaged the Joséphine pavilion, which was then meticulously reconstructed to mirror its original form and repurposed for cultural activities. In 2013, both the main thoroughfare of the park, Allée de l'Orangerie Joséphine, and the Allée des Platanes underwent redesign, accompanied by new lighting installations.

At present, merely three orange trees remain, sheltered within the park's accessible greenhouses on specific dates for public viewing. The Orangerie stands as a cherished locale for Strasbourg locals, offering a mini-farm, a stork reintroduction center, a bowling alley, a children's car circuit named "L'École de Conduite," multiple play areas, sports facilities, and petanque courts. Furthermore, visitors can rent boats for lake navigation. Numerous fountains, statues, and kiosks adorn the park's pathways, and a number of ice cream parlors have set up stands in the vicinity.

Tip:
Check out the flamingos in the mini zoo – a beautiful splash of color!