Drawn to the bucolic charm are we? Then let’s explore Robertsau. This northern Strasbourg quarter was once a fisherman’s haven. Now Robertsau is a primarily residential area.
Robertsau’s history is quite interesting. The name “Robertsau” comes from “Ruprechtsau” German for Rupert and Aue. Aue means wet meadow or riverside meadow. The knight Robert Bock built a castle here around 1200. Though the castle is gone Robertsau still bears his name. You can find it in the street names.
In the 17th century Vauban built Fort-Louis on an island here. The fort was intended to defend Strasbourg. Joseph Guérault built his castle in the 18th century along the forest. The nobility and upper bourgeoisie followed. They built country houses or “güeter”. In 1784 Robertsau had 256 households. Forty-five of these were “güeter”.
Originally Robertsau had many arms of the Ill and Rhine rivers. Part of the Rhine forest was also here. Frequent flooding delayed urbanization. In the 19th century market gardeners settled here. Gradually permanent housing replaced farms. Wealthy Strasbourgeois built holiday homes here.
The Saint-Fiacre gardeners’ brotherhood was founded in 1752. It still exists today. They organize the gardeners’ festival each year for Saint-Fiacre. In the early 20th century Robertsau had about one hundred market gardeners. This earned it the nickname “Laüch” or leek.
In 1895 the paper mill employed 327 people. Many master houses were built during the German period. The Catholic presbytery and the sanatorium were also built. Restaurants and cafés were popular with day trippers. Robertsau has been served by the tramway since 1883.
The oil port and the Albert Auberger basin were built in 1927. The oil port was bombed during World War II. It was expanded in the 1960s. Seven hundred market gardens near the oil port were banned from watering. The water table was polluted by petroleum products.
In September 1940 some Robertsau residents took refuge in the Dordogne. The tram line to Robertsau was closed in 1953. The number of market gardens has greatly decreased since the 1960s. In 2010 there were only 8 market gardeners left. But there were 15 again in 2015.
Today Robertsau residents have higher incomes than the city average. The Ill neighborhood is an exception. It was built in the 1960s. It is on the northwest edge. Robertsau’s green character attracts people. Its proximity to European institutions is also a plus. High demand for land faces constraints. The area is prone to flooding.
Industrial and port facilities restrict construction. There are also Seveso and boil-over perimeters. The area is not easily accessible. Only three road bridges connect Robertsau to the center. There is no public transport on its own site. Recent densification has weakened Robertsau’s heritage. Market gardeners are disappearing. Villas are being replaced by banal buildings.
Since 2007 the south entrance to Robertsau has been served by the tram. In March 2017 the construction of three towers was criticized. A new project was presented in September 2018. It provides for 130 to 150 homes. They will be in small buildings of no more than two floors.
The Saint-Louis parish hall was built in 1910. It was to be demolished for a real estate project. The new hall would have been built in the church garden. Residents strongly opposed this. The city council preserved the building and the church garden. The hall will be renovated thanks to the sale of land. New district town hall will be built on Rue Boecklin in 2022.
Robertsau’s notable monument is the Château de Pourtalès. It has a large English garden. The Bussière farm is located north of the park. Today the old barn houses the Strasbourg nature center. The district has many half-timbered houses. Several now house restaurants. Robertsau has two churches. There is the Protestant church built in 1864. The other is the Catholic church named Saint-Louis. A Buddhist temple is also located here.
Robertsau has two cemeteries Saint-Louis and Nord. Saint-Louis Cemetery is the oldest and smallest in Strasbourg. Several famous people are buried here. The Pourtalès family’s private cemetery is next to the necropolis. Robertsau is sometimes called the garden of Strasbourg. The Robertsau forest and the Pourtalès park are here. Many paths are also developed along the rivers. Robertsau truly blends nature and history.