Learning from Alsace-Lorraine 17

Making Connections in Saverne

by Wayne Senville

During our two days in Saverne, I had several opportunities to walk the length of the Quai du Canal from our boat’s docking area to Saverne’s downtown (centre-ville). Each walk left me impressed by the design of this new promenade. Only after returning home, however, did I learn the story behind it. 

Beginning in 2020, the City of Saverne undertook the redevelopment of the Quai du Canal as part of France’s national “Action Cœur de Ville” downtown revitalization program. Completed in 2021, the project strengthened the pedestrian connection between the marina on the Marne-Rhine Canal and the city’s historic centre-ville. 

The City felt this link to be especially important for both tourists and residents, given that centre-ville Saverne includes the large and historically significant Château des Rohan, which in turn borders on the Place du Général de Gaulle (discussed in Post 16), which also fronts on Saverne’s main shopping street, the Grand’Rue. 

The City retained the services of the landscape architecture firm Thierry-Muller to redesign the existing Quai du Canal—the roadway that had long run between the port area and Grand’Rue. See a Google street view from May 2018, before the project.

The historical markers used along the promenade are quite informative, displaying old photos taken from the same vantage points. Here the view is of the north wing of the Château des Rohan across the canal.

 

After five years in use, there was also not a single indication of graffiti marring any of the display panels—
something I, unfortunately, cannot say of the way
historical panels are treated
in most American cities and towns.

Instead of a roadway, a quarter-mile-long pedestrian-oriented promenade was built that also allows for vehicle use, but as a zone de rencontre where pedestrians and bicyclists are given priority. (You might recall the term zone de rencontre from Post 7, about Strasbourg’s efforts to limit and better control auto use in its historic center.) 

The completed design in Saverne integrates attractive sandstone pavers; historical markers; a new overlook with views of the canal and the Château des Rohan; improved lighting; and a row of tree plantings.

 Attention to detail was a hallmark of the project. As Thierry-Muller notes:

“Nos équipes ont pu mettre en avant leur savoir-faire et leur minutie dans le travail de la pierre naturelle locale : le grès des Vosges. Au cœur du patrimoine architectural remarquable de la ville de Saverne, le projet paysager veut redonner une place centrale au piéton.” 

In English: “Our teams were able to highlight their know-how and meticulousness in working with local natural stone: the sandstone of the Vosges. At the heart of the remarkable architectural heritage of the town of Saverne, the landscaping project aims to restore a central place for pedestrians.”

Quai du Canal. View towards downtown.

Take a look, for example, at the creative signage alerting drivers that children may be crossing the street, and the sandstone street pavers that also help slow down traffic.

Silhouettes of a boy and a girl serve to warn
motorists to slow down and be careful.

At most times, cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians can share
the new promenade.

As the City of Saverne indicated in its municipal magazine, “Le nouveau quai du Canal deviendra rapidement une promenade prisée le long de l’eau, dans la verdure—il sera d’ailleurs piétonnisé les dimanches et jours fériés.” 

In English: “The new Quai du Canal will quickly become a popular walk along the water, with its greenery—it will also be pedestrianized on Sundays and public holidays.” 

The Quai du Canal project has been enthusiastically endorsed, at least if feedback on the City of Saverne’s Facebook page at the time of the project’s completion is any indication. Comments described the renovated canal front as “magnifique,” “très joli,” “une superbe promenade,” “super j’ai adoré me balader le long du canal,” “très beau bravo pour les travaux,” while one commenter responded with a string of eight ❤️ emojis. 

For me, the project illustrates how thoughtful urban design can do more than beautify a place. It can connect a community with its history and, in Saverne, with its waterfront. 

I’ll share two more things:

First, I’m setting out a few photos of Saverne’s centre-ville so you have some idea of the Grand’Rue and the centre-ville, which the Quai du Canal connects to. 

Second, you’ll find a bit of surprise in the last two photos I’m including. They’re of some “little brick friends” I met up with in Saverne (and in several other places in Alsace). Apologies to my fellow Road Scholars and others for not mentioning this till now!

All photos by the author.
To read Post 18, click here.[to come]
To see the whole series, click here.