Parc de l'Orangerie

The Parc de l'Orangerie is the oldest and best-known park in Strasbourg, in the Alsace area of France's Grand Est region, located on Allée de l'Orangerie close to the European Quarter. It was laid out in 1692 to designs by André Le Nôtre, the gardener of Versailles, and later given a more English-style landscape. Today it spans a large area of lawns, mature trees, flower beds and a lake with rowing boats. The Pavillon Joséphine, a neoclassical building, was built for Empress Josephine's visit in 1804 and is now used for receptions and events. A small zoo area, a children's playground, a mini-farm and a pond with fountains attract families, while the park is also known for its colonies of storks, which nest in the trees and on rooftops in the area and are an emblem of Alsace. Visitors can stroll the paths, rent a boat, picnic on the lawns and enjoy the café-restaurant near the lake. A visit takes one to two hours, longer for families. The park is free to enter and open daily from about 7:30AM to sunset, with details at strasbourg.eu. It is reached by Tram E to Droits de l'Homme, then about five minutes on foot. The park is busiest on sunny weekends and holidays, and the quietest times are weekday mornings. Spring and summer are the best seasons, with blossoms and active stork nests, while late afternoon gives soft light over the lake and good opportunities to photograph the birds. The European Parliament and the Council of Europe are close, so the park pairs well with a visit to the European Quarter. Visitors should keep a respectful distance from nesting storks and avoid feeding the animals.