Orangerie Park Walking Tour (Self Guided), Strasbourg

Orangerie Park is a gorgeous green space in Strasbourg. At more than 2,600 hectares, it is also the city’s largest park as well as being its oldest. The urban oasis is to Strasbourg what Central Park is to New York and was laid out in 1804 by André Le Nôtre. He also designed the sumptuous gardens of the Palace of Versailles.

This sanctuary from the city features a boating lake, a waterfall, lawns, a vintage car track and a zoo. Among the other wonderful attractions are the flower-lined gardens that were created in honor of Napoléon’s wife Joséphine, although she never came to the park. There is a lot to see and do here. Relax on expansive lawns, observe monkeys and other animals at the zoo, let the children pet barnyard animals at the petting farm and enjoy a snack or a meal in the Buerehiesel Restaurant, which is housed in a 17th-century half-timbered house.

During the summer, you can rent a boat for a trip across the lake. There are also walking and cycling paths, playgrounds and recreation areas. While you are in the park’s environs, you may well see many storks. There is a large population here, and the stork is the emblem of the region. At any time of year, a visit to the peaceful park is a wonderful and soul-satisfying experience.