Les jardins de l'Altwasser

The Altwasser, which literally means “old water”, is located on a former dead branch of the Kreuzrhein. For many years, this land located in the heart of the city was used as a landfill, especially for many construction debris and scrap. By choosing this location to build «Le Gabion», a sports, festive and leisure centre, the municipality has also rehabilitated the entire site. For the environment Before the site could be renaturized, it had to be rid of the waste that cluttered it: concrete plates, metals, some plastics also. Fortunately, studies had guaranteed even before the start of the cleaning work that the soil was not polluted and of very good quality. In order to create a pleasant environment, 54,000 m3 of soil were sifted, moved and crushed. The majority was reused on site, for example for the underlay of roads. The final, non-recyclable waste was treated by specialized waste disposal facilities. Place for greenery The park has reached its final form. A pleasant space, planted with trees and plants, where water – which gave its name to the place – is present, this is the spirit of this place. The Altwasser Gardens welcome walkers in a pleasant, quiet and educational environment. Explanatory panels will allow a better understanding of the different areas of the park and the plants that are presented. For the youngest, an entertainment and games area allows them to have fun. Benches and resting places are located throughout the aisles. Finally, a school orchard offers an opportunity to discover the trees that have disappeared. Since 2013, the Altwasser Gardens are part of the Club des Parcs et Jardins de caractère d'Alsace.