Two Shores Garden

The banks of the Rhine around Strasbourg and Kehl were defined for centuries by shifting borders and strategic military fortifications. Major engineering works directed by Johann Gottfried Tulla in the nineteenth century straightened the wild riverbed, laying the foundation for modern river traffic and permanently shaping the surrounding landscape. In the decades that followed, the French bank welcomed pleasure gardens and a popular racecourse, though dark times during the Second World War saw these exact grounds repurposed for military drills and wartime executions. The end of the war slowly brought about a profound shift in perspective, transforming a once contested boundary into a space for cooperation. In 1995, Strasbourg city councillor Michel Krieger envisioned an ambitious cross border public park that would reimagine the Rhine as a joining element rather than a divider. Local authorities in both France and Germany embraced the idea, launching an international competition to turn forty hectares of riverbank into a shared sanctuary of reconciliation and natural beauty. The grand opening of the park during the 2004 garden exhibition marked a monumental moment for regional diplomacy. At its heart sits an elegant pedestrian bridge designed by French architect Marc Mimram, featuring a central meeting platform suspended directly above the water where visitors from both nations gather daily. Today, this sprawling haven stands as a living testament to friendship, hosting cultural festivals, open air concerts, and international gatherings that celebrate a shared future.