Parc du Heyritz

Parc du Heyritz is an 8.7-hectare public park opened in 2014 along the Bassin de l'Hôpital, between the civil hospital and place de l'Étoile. Its long pontoon over the water, floating garden and mirror fountain make it one of Strasbourg's most contemporary green spaces. A few minutes from the Petite France, it is a pleasant waterside break.

Waterside wasteland turned park

For a long time, the banks of the Bassin de l'Hôpital were just wild, hard-to-reach green spaces. In 2010 the city decided to turn them into a park. The Heyritz was inaugurated in early 2014 and fully completed in June that year. Its central square, place de Vologda, was inaugurated on 3 November 2014. Owned by the city, the park holds the EcoJardin label and includes about 1.5 hectares of water across its 8.7 hectares.

Walking on water: the pontoon and floating garden

The Heyritz's signature feature is its 300-metre pontoon on the Bassin de l'Hôpital, letting you walk just above the water. It holds a floating garden, where plants seem to grow straight out of the basin. A movable footbridge links the park to the hospital grounds on the opposite bank, and a footpath runs along the junction canal to place de l'Étoile. At sunset, the hospital buildings are beautifully reflected in the water.

Mirror fountain and summer games

On sunny days, the mirror fountain is the place to cool off: a thin sheet of water on the ground where children love to run. A play area and an outdoor fitness area complete the facilities, making the Heyritz a favourite with local families and sporty types. The lawns by the basin are good for a picnic, with views over the water and the roofs of the civil hospital.

Between place de l'Étoile and the Petite France

The park is easy to reach: trams A and D stop at Étoile Bourse, and buses G and C1 serve the Hôpital Civil and Hôtel de Police stops. Its location between place de l'Étoile and the civil hospital makes it a natural stop on the way to the Petite France and the Ponts Couverts, both within walking distance. It is also a good way to end a day of sightseeing with a quiet walk, away from the crowds of the historic centre.