Urban Nature Park of Strasbourg – A lot of nature and culture!
Have you heard of the Strasbourg Urban Nature Park? Many Strasbourg residents walk right past it without even realizing it! The concept is similar to that of Regional Nature Parks: here, there are no fences or enclosed gardens, but rather entire neighborhoods of the city where the natural, historical, and cultural treasures are preserved and showcased, in collaboration with local stakeholders. It’s not the best-known spot among tourists—or even locals. And yet, the PNU is definitely worth a visit. Let me take you on a tour to discover it.
Summary
- The Strasbourg Urban Nature Park: My Thoughts in a Nutshell
- Where is the PNU located in Strasbourg?
- Exploring the PNU: A Guide
- PNU Ill-Bruche: in Koenigshoffen, Montagne Verte, and Elsau
- PNU Ill-Rhin: in Wacken, at the Council of the 15, and in Robertsau
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Strasbourg Urban Nature Park
- Key Facts About the Strasbourg Urban Nature Park
The essentials at a glance
- 📍 Location: Ill-Bruche Urban Community (Koenigshoffen, Montagne Verte, Elsau) & Ill-Rhin Urban Community (Wacken, Conseil des XV, Robertsau)
- 👪 Audience: Families, hikers, cyclists, and those interested in local heritage
- 💶 Cost: Free (public space, open to the public)
The Strasbourg Urban Nature Park: My Thoughts in a Nutshell
I liked
- Discover a different side of Strasbourg, off the beaten path
- Izi Travel’s audio tours are convenient and not too long (about 1 minute per point of interest)
- Explore the park freely, on foot or by bike, for free
- Some real gems of cultural heritage, even for someone from Strasbourg (Schloessel Tower, Villa Schweitzer, Bruche Canal…)
I liked less
- The 7 trails marked by the Club Vosgien, which aren’t always easy to follow in the field
- The Ill-Rhin National Park, which is more urbanized, will appeal less to lovers of “unspoiled” nature than the Ill-Bruche National Park
Where is the PNU located in Strasbourg?
There are two large areas in Strasbourg that are part of the Urban Nature Park:
- the PNU Ill – Bruche, the oldest, is located in theElsau, Montagne Verte and Koenigshoffen districts.
- the more recent Ill – Rhine NPU is located in the Wacken, Conseil des XV and Robertsau districts.
The PNUs are not only natural areas: they are partially urbanized, but they are both part of the so-called Green Belt of Strasbourg, an area surrounding the city center and consisting of promenades, parks and garden cities.
We’re fortunate in Strasbourg to have a very green city, with many parks and gardens (click to read the dedicated article) where you can enjoy the greenery. I also invite you to read my article on cycling in Strasbourg for more examples.
Exploring the PNU: A Guide
I have been living near Strasbourg for several years and knew about the existence of the PNU, which I had of course visited a few times, but I had never taken the time to really understand the concept and to follow the proposed walking tours.
It was a mistake, the PNU of Strasbourg is really a good place to walk. The routes set up allow you to discover Strasbourg in a different way. Once you’ve visited the must-sees of Strasbourg, you can enjoy discovering another face of the city!
A walk in the PNU is an opportunity to go green, but also to make historical and cultural discoveries, sometimes unusual. For my part, I had very nice surprises by discovering places that I did not know at all… The ultimate for the Strasbourg blogger that I am!
As an added bonus, audio tours are offered, providing explanations for each point of interest encountered. This is a perfect combination of walking and learning. The explanations last about 1 minute per place, enough to know more, but not too long to not get bored. You can then, at your convenience, go deeper if you want to know more about a specific place.
PNU Ill-Bruche: in Koenigshoffen, Montagne Verte, and Elsau
The Ill-Bruche urban nature park is the best known: it was the first to be established and covers 460 hectares. Just that! There are 7 routes marked out by the Club Vosgien, but I must admit that I didn’t always find them very easy to follow.
💡 My tip as a local: if you could only take one tour, go for the “Highlights of the Ill Bruche Nature Park” trail, which you can explore with the Izi Travel audio guides for each point of interest: it’s easier to follow on the ground than the 7 Club Vosgien trails.
You can easily explore the PNU on foot or by bike—the choice is yours! Among my favorites:
- 🏰 The Schloessel Tower (a former watchtower dating from the 14th century, which houses the PNU House) and its gardens
- 🌲 The Forest and the Kupferhammer Mill
- 🏡 Villa Schweitzer
- 🪦 The Jewish Cemetery
- 🌻 The Green Mountain Gardens
- 🚤 The Bruche Canal
But there are really a lot of nuggets and remarkable buildings to discover… Even for the people of Strasbourg in my opinion! For my part, I had some nice surprises.
🌸 Good to know: Every year, usually in early April, the PNU hosts its big festival, featuring free walks and activities for all ages—a great opportunity to experience it in a different way.
Practical Information – PNU Ill-Bruche
- Neighborhoods: Koenigshoffen, Montagne Verte, Elsau.
- Area: approximately 460 hectares.
- Trails: 7 trails marked by the Club Vosgien, or the “Les pépites du PNU Ill-Bruche” trail with an Izi Travel audio guide.
- How to get there: on foot or by bike.
- UN House: Schloessel Tower.
PNU Ill-Rhin: in Wacken, at the Council of the 15, and in Robertsau
The Ill-Rhin urban nature park is more urbanized and less green than the Ill-Bruche PNU. It remains however very pleasant, particularly for the discoveries of a little secret corners that it allows to make. A circuit with 12 stages is proposed from the Parc de l’Orangerie and can be done very well on foot. We cross quiet districts, the water is omnipresent and we see in the passage of very beautiful residences.
💡 My tip as a local: Take advantage of the tour to stop by the Parc de l’Orangerie—the official starting point—before heading into the quiet streets of the 15th arrondissement.
Among the sights to see along the way:
- 🏛️ The Ungemach Estate
- 🌊 The needle dam on the Ill River
- 🇪🇺 The Place of Europe
Here again, I went from surprise to surprise during this tour, there are several places that I did not know!
To enjoyaudio explanations during your walk (and geolocation, which helps you follow the route), you can find the Izi Travel route here.
Practical Information – PNU Ill-Rhin
- Neighborhoods: Wacken, Conseil des XV, Robertsau.
- Tour: A 12-stop tour starting at the Parc de l’Orangerie, featuring an Izi Travel geolocation-based audio guide.
- How to get there: on foot.
- Points of interest: Cité Ungemach, needle dam on the Ill River, Lieu d’Europe.
Also on the blog
ACCESS
Bicycle access
Both PNUs are equipped for cycling, particularly along the Bruche Canal in the case of the Ill-Bruche PNU.
Public transport access
- For the Ill-Bruche Public Transport Network: Montagne Verte stop (trams B and F), or the extension of Line F toward Koenigshoffen (Porte Blanche, Parc des Romains, and Comtes stations).
- For the Ill-Rhin Public Transportation Network: Line E serves several stops right in the heart of the park, such as Wacken, European Parliament, Human Rights, Boecklin, Jardiniers, Mélanie, and Robertsau L’Escale.
Access by car
For the Ill-Bruche Public Transit Network (PNU), a park-and-ride facility with 340 spaces is available at the “Parc des Romains” station (Line F), which is convenient for reaching the park on the Koenigshoffen side.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Strasbourg Urban Nature Park
What is the Strasbourg Urban Nature Park?
The Urban Natural Park (PNU) is not a park in the traditional sense, but rather a designation for entire city neighborhoods where the natural, historical, and cultural heritage is preserved and promoted. It comprises two areas: the Ill-Bruche PNU and the Ill-Rhin PNU.
Is the Strasbourg Urban Nature Park free?
Yes, the tour is completely free and open to the public: it’s an urban space open to the public that you can explore on foot or by bike at any time.
Where is the PNU Ill-Bruche located in Strasbourg?
The Ill-Bruche Urban Development Plan covers the neighborhoods of Koenigshoffen, Montagne Verte, and Elsau, west of Strasbourg.
Where is the Ill-Rhin National Park located in Strasbourg?
The Ill-Rhin UNHCR office is located in the Wacken, Conseil des XV, and Robertsau neighborhoods in the northeastern part of the city.
How do I get to the Urban Nature Park by tram?
For the Ill-Bruche Nature Park, get off at the Montagne Verte stop (lines B and F). For the Ill-Rhin Nature Park, line E serves several stops in the heart of the park, such as Wacken, European Parliament, and Robertsau L’Escale.
Key Facts About the Strasbourg Urban Nature Park
- The PNU is not a closed park, but rather two areas of the city (Ill-Bruche and Ill-Rhin) where heritage and nature come together.
- The tour is free and can be taken on foot or by bike, with audio-guided tours from Izi Travel.
- The Ill-Bruche Nature Park, which is greener and larger (about 460 ha), is ideal for a true break in nature.
- The Ill-Rhin National Park, which is more urban in character, offers some lovely heritage surprises, particularly around the Parc de l’Orangerie.
To extend your stroll, check out my article on my 10 favorite parks and gardens in Strasbourg or my bike rides in Strasbourg.