Rhônelle Park (Parc de la Rhônelle)
About Rhônelle Park (Parc de la Rhônelle)
This 5-hectare English-style public garden was designed by landscape architect Henri Martinet in 1904. The park features rolling hills, winding paths, a pond with swans and ducks, and over 530 trees including cedars and sequoias. The medieval Tour de la Dodenne, built in 1449 and the last remaining structure from Valenciennes' fortifications, stands at the entrance where the Rhonelle river flows into the city. The park functions as an open-air museum with sculptures including 'The Marble Player' and 'The Carpenter.' A children's playground, 21 flower beds, and numerous bridges complete the landscape. Free entry, accessible 24/7 year-round. In summer, the park hosts weekly 'Thursday Picnic Party' events from June through August.
Interesting Facts
The name 'Dodenne' in Tour de la Dodenne comes from the Picard word meaning 'donkey's back,' describing the distinctive shape of the tower's depressed vault that spans the Rhônelle river. This medieval water gate was built in 1449 by architect Michel de Rains and served as one of the main entry points for the river into the fortified city.
In 2013, Valenciennes became the first city in France to sign a sustainable lighting charter, implemented in this park. The LED lights use amber-colored biodiversity-friendly lighting with motion detection, and all streetlights automatically turn off between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM to protect nocturnal wildlife. The system was designed with assistance from the Noé Conservation association.
Landscape architect Henri Martinet trained at the prestigious Horticulture School of Versailles before completing his studies in England in 1888. This English training directly shaped his romantic, naturalistic design philosophy, evident in the park's flowing layouts, artificial hills created through significant earthworks, and picturesque water features that were revolutionary for French parks of that era.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
18 Boulevard Carpeaux, 59300 Valenciennes, France