Square de l’Etendard

Beneath the shadow of a ten-story building, discover the unique charm of Square de l’Etendard. This urban oasis in Courbevoie distinguishes itself with a planted swale. This ditch collects rainwater, blurring the lines between city and nature. Square de l’Etendard is more than just a green space. It’s a testament to innovative urban design, divided into three distinct sections. Created between 2012 and 2013 by Endroits en Verts, the landscape architects, each part has its own distinct personality. A sleek black fence with slanted bars hides the square’s true nature. The westernmost section connects Rue Armand Silvestre, lined with red-flowering chestnut trees, to Boulevard Georges Clemenceau. This walkway, known as the “Biodiversity Corridor,” features an almond-green pergola. It is draped with climbing plants like evergreen clematis, wisteria, and grapevines. At the foot of a red brick wall, a winding, almond-green bench stretches for twenty meters. This bench is reputedly the longest in France, offering a unique resting spot. Nearby, a golden-leaved American yellowwood tree stands as a living memorial. It was planted on December 8, 2012, in honor of former deputy mayor Stéphane Vagner. For those seeking activity, Square de l’Etendard provides fitness equipment amidst a vibrant display of rudbeckias. The second section, dedicated to children aged 3 to 12, offers a playground with a play structure, swing set, and spinning top. All situated on a soft, green surface. The third part, known as the “Garden of Thought,” provides a geometrically designed space for quiet reflection and reading. Nestled at the base of cedars and cherry trees, this tranquil area boasts several black benches surrounding flowerbeds. Two pagoda dogwoods, with their tiered horizontal branches and white-edged leaves, stand out amongst a variety of perennials. Alchemilla, asters, euphorbias, fairy flowers, gauras, hostas, liriopes, Caucasian forget-me-nots, and Solomon’s seals add to the garden’s rich tapestry. Look for the candy bushes, named for their clusters of small, spherical, violet-colored fruits. Square de l’Etendard isn’t just a park. It is a microcosm of nature woven into the urban fabric, a place to relax, reflect, and reconnect with the natural world within the city’s embrace.