Crumbling ruins serve as a reminder of the imposing pentagonal fortress that once stood here, its moat-side mounds now a hotspot for sunbathers and picnickers.
Citadelle Park is a 30-acre (12-hectare) riverside set of grounds that stands out from its neighbors with the ruins of its fortress and moats. Take a break from the hustle of the surrounding city center by spending an afternoon in this grassy park.
Spread a blanket along the side of the moat and set up a picnic to enjoy with your family. Go for a pleasant stroll between the trees and enjoy the views of the water. You may see locals and vacationers napping or sunbathing with books on the grassy mounds and steep crooks near the moat. Sit at a bench and watch people wander by.
Among the highlights of the park are the tall ramparts that were once part of the fortress from which the park takes its name. Study the preserved walls and imagine the 17th-century citadel in its prime many years ago. The fortress had a pentagonal form and was built by French military engineer Sébastien le Prestre de Vauban to defend the Rhine Bridge.
Walk along the river and admire the rows of boats at the southern bend in the park. Bring your kids to the nearby children’s playground that includes a climbing frame and slide. In summer, the little ones can frolic among the jets of a blue fountain.
Note that the park was constructed around the citadel’s vestiges in 1964. It opens to the public daily from morning until late afternoon.
Find Citadelle Park in the southeastern part of the Esplanade quarter in eastern Strasbourg along the Bassin de la Citadelle waterway that passes through the city center. Ride a tram or bus to the Esplanade stop and walk southeast for a few minutes to get to the park.
While you’re in the area, stop at Le Vaisseau, the Université de Strasbourg and the Musée Adolf-Michaelis.
