Parc de l'Orangerie

Overview

The Parc de l'Orangerie is Strasbourg's oldest and most elegant park — a 26-hectare English-style landscape garden adjacent to the European institutions district. Its lake, towering trees, and resident storks make it the city's most popular green retreat.

Highlights

• Stork Colony: A breeding colony of white storks — Alsace's beloved emblem — nests in the park's trees.
• The Lake: A romantic boating lake surrounded by weeping willows and crossed by a small footbridge.
• Joséphine Pavilion: A neoclassical orangery built for Empress Joséphine, now used for exhibitions.

History

Laid out in 1692 by architect Le Nôtre (designer of Versailles), the park was redesigned in the English landscape style in the 19th century. The Pavilion Joséphine was added in 1804. The stork reintroduction program, begun in the 1970s, successfully restored the once-declining local population.

Visitor Tips

• Stork Watching: Spring and early summer offer the best chances to see storks nesting and feeding their chicks.
• Zoo: A small free zoo in the park is popular with families.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.