Square de la Montagne-Verte (Green Mountain Square), Colmar

Nestled in the historic heart of Colmar, the Green Mountain Square (Square de la Montagne‑Verte) offers a peaceful urban retreat framed by elegant architecture and verdant foliage. Located between the former hospital-now the Médiathèque Edmond Gerrer-and the Covered Market (Marché Couvert), and adjacent to the Tanneurs district, this park is both easily accessible and steeped in local character.

Since its redevelopment in 1975 on the site of an old school, the square spans approximately 3,273 square meters and showcases a rich variety of mature trees. Among the most striking are a Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) planted in 1877 and a towering Italian poplar from 1919. Their dense canopy provides welcome shade and cooling respite, especially during sunny summer afternoons.

The square features comfortable benches and a children’s playground, making it a restful stop for families exploring nearby sights such as Grand Rue or Old Customs Square (Place de l’Ancienne Douane). Though recent redevelopment in 2020 created the new “Parc Georges Pompidou” above a reconfigured underground car park, the ambiance of the Green Mountain Square remains intact as a favorite spot for relaxation.

A particularly poetic feature of the modern redesign is the installation of 24 curved steel arches interlaced with climbing-rope systems, designed to support flourishing vines. These leafy corridors evoke a medieval cloister and echo the site’s former life as a Franciscan convent, creating a tranquil oasis amid the hustle of the city center. Perfect for a quiet moment between exploring Colmar’s fairytale streets, this green square offers historians, families, and casual wanderers alike a serene pause in their journey.