Lost in reverie amidst sprawling lawns? You have arrived at Parc de Pourtalès. This public park is in the north-east of the Robertsau district. Parc de Pourtalès spans 25 hectares. It stands as one of Strasbourg’s largest green spaces.
The park adjoins the Robertsau forest. It houses the Château de Pourtalès. The Château dates back to the 18th century. The city of Strasbourg owns Parc de Pourtalès.
Once inside Parc de Pourtalès observe its varied components. They include a garden bridge a house and a farm. Look around. Can you spot a garden fence a greenhouse or a concierge’s lodge? A dovecote an alley a gate and a footbridge can also be seen. There is even a fountain. Two old ponds complete the scene.
The park’s original decor is mostly lost. Only two damaged statues remain. One depicts Apollo. The other shows Flora. A few putti from an allegory of the seasons are also present. Nature has reclaimed much of the landscape garden. The draining of canals in 1964 led to the ponds drying up.
Today Parc de Pourtalès has a wild natural feel. Many notable trees dot the area. Restoration work on the old Canal des Français finished in spring 2015. The canal now has water. The old ponds also have water once again. Some of the rose garden remains to protect endangered plants.
Parc de Pourtalès features contemporary sculptures. These were part of a project by the European Centre for Contemporary Artistic Actions.
Pause for a moment and look for Les Arbrorigènes. Ernest Pignon-Ernest created these in 1988. These figures blend humans and plants. They stand 1.80 meters tall. Microalgae and polyurethane foam cover them. The sculptures camouflage in the trees. They become one with nature. The artist speaks of plant life’s secret photosynthesis. The organic materials decay and disappear over time.
In 1990 Claudio Parmiggiani created Il bosco guarda e ascolta. It means “the forest watches and listens”. This composite work features natural elements like branch scars and bronze ears. Fifteen elements existed before the storm of 1999. Only seven remain now. The sculpted ears are enlarged reproductions of an ancient sculpture. The forest seems alive and magical because of its surreal dimensions.
Barry Flanagan created The Bowler in 1992. It is a bronze hare on a base. The artist found inspiration from a hare leaping in the snow. This cricket player reminds us of ancient hero statues. He gently mocks the seriousness humans attach to leisure activities. “I would be happy if people laugh when they see my works” the artist said.
Jean-Marie Krauth created Leur Lieu in 1995. This installation features 137 bronze figurines. They are made from a chocolate Saint Nicholas mold. These faceless elves seem to have found “their place”. It is a forest full of dreams and legends. Jean-Marie Krauth values re-enchanting everyday life.
In 1998 Sarkis created Près de l’arbre. It is a dodecagonal structure of colored glass. It evokes a gloriette. An invisible door invites artists to enter and create. A dead beech tree stood near the structure but disappeared during the storm of 1999.
Gaetano Pesce presented Ce n’est pas ici in 1999. The installation includes a bronze chair a monumental wooden tower a yew tree house and a rubber ball. The artist plays with the way humans use nature. He blurs the lines between domestic and natural spaces.
Giulio Paolini’s Genius Loci from 2001 features a man studying a map. He invites us to discover other works marked by spheres.
Jimmie Durham’s Détour from 2005 features a granite block and an orange cast iron snake. The snake’s improbable path mocks human activities.
Take a moment to appreciate the blend of nature art and history in Parc de Pourtalès. It is a place where imagination thrives.