Right here, we find ourselves before a building that whispers tales of bygone eras. It’s the Octroi of Strasbourg. The Octroi, a term perhaps unfamiliar to some, once signified a tax levied on goods entering a city. Imagine this very spot bustling with activity. Carts laden with produce, wine barrels, and timber would queue here. Attendants meticulously assessed and taxed these goods.
Strasbourg once had multiple Octroi buildings. Two of them were strategically positioned in this very neighborhood. They regulated access to the city from the Robertsau area. Back then, Robertsau was not yet part of Strasbourg’s urban sprawl. One stood on the western edge. The other, on the eastern edge of the Orangerie Park.
Sadly, only one of these Octroi buildings remains visible today. The other was dismantled in the 1960s. It made way for the expansion of the Pont de la Porte du Canal. Though disassembled, it remains complete on municipal land, awaiting a potential resurrection.
The Octroi that you see before you originally stood directly across the Avenue de l’Europe. It was moved during the construction of the Palais de l’Europe. Until 2001, it served as a police post for the Council of Europe. Since then, it has been vacant.
In spring and summer, lush greenery almost conceals the Octroi. It is best viewed in winter, when its beauty stands out. Despite a somewhat insensitive renovation, its neoclassical lines remain. The park’s historical monument status adds to its significance.
Local initiatives once envisioned incorporating this Octroi into a human rights trail within the Orangerie Park. Multimedia exhibits would have brought its history to life. But the city council did not favor the project. Hopes remain that the Octroi will feature in a European trail. This trail would link the Lieu d’Europe to the city center.
This Octroi building dates back to the Napoleonic era. Construction likely occurred between 1800 and 1814. The Directoire re-established the Octroi system in 1798. This Octroi collected import duties. It controlled the flow of goods.
In 2012, the television network Arte purchased this Octroi. The intention was to house Arte Magazine’s offices here. Renovation costs were estimated at 300,000. The total investment reached 400,000. After renovations, ten people were to work here.
Before Arte’s acquisition, this Octroi stood unoccupied for a decade. Squatters occupied the building after 2002. A restaurateur almost bought it in 2004. Restoration concluded around November 2012. Nine journalists moved into the new premises in June 2013. They worked on a newspaper for the German public. The renovation created 120 square meters of space. The cost, including the building purchase, totaled 500,000.
The Octroi now stands as a testament to Strasbourg’s past. It serves as a reminder of a time when city boundaries held significant economic power.