Playground in the local recreation area
On the northern outskirts of Luxembourg lies a wooded area of around 655 hectares, which has been used as a local recreation area since the early 20th century. In 1968, the first children's playground was built, which enjoyed great popularity and was maintained with great dedication by the Service Forêts. The special charm of the place lay above all in its naturalness, due to its location in the forest and the use of wooden play equipment. Great care was therefore required when renovating the playground in 2023 in order to preserve this unique character.
The concept by Schwarze und Partner Landschaftsarchitekten envisaged a playful interpretation of Luxembourg's city history. Key elements of the cityscape, such as the "Three Acorns" fort, the "Hollow Tooth" and the River Alzette, were to be incorporated. The close collaboration between the landscape architects and Richter Spielgeräte resulted in an authentic playground that is a feel-good place for visitors of all ages thanks to its natural materials, the continuous flow of play, the careful adaptation of the topography and, above all, its embedding in the forest. The cooperation with the company KaGo & Hammerschmidt Kunstfelsen opened up new possibilities to give the play area a grown and historical appearance.
The history of Luxembourg City in a forest playground
At the entrance to the playground, the statue of Melusina awaits the children next to the gnome village with its playhouses and sand play facilities. According to legend, she was a mermaid who was in a relationship with Count Siegfried of Luxembourg until she disappeared into the Alzette one day. Above the Melusina, at the beginning of the watercourse with its many dams and water sources, rises majestically the "Drei Eicheln" fort, a large playable castle complex. The "Hohle Zahn" is located on an elevation whose rocky edge is reminiscent of the town's historic Bockfelsen. A castle ruin, which is part of the original fortifications of Luxembourg, offers children an impressive view from lofty heights and an exciting ride down the tunnel slide. The "Three Towers" can be reached via the castle bridge, which is equipped with a wheelchair rocker as a bridge deck. The mystical-looking basement made of artificial rock supports the wooden structure, which contains a pretzel bakery and a guard room.
The diverse play functions in the historicizing elements are supplemented by free-standing play equipment for turning, seesawing, jumping, swinging and much more. Of the existing play equipment, the popular animal carousel and cable car have been retained.
The entire playground is highly inclusive. It offers exciting experiences for everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, and involves people with a wide range of physical and mental abilities.