Paris is likely one of the prime three journey locations on this planet, but guests to France usually spend their whole trip with out going additional than the twentieth arrondissement. But in case you don’t make it out of Paris and into the Alsace area, you’ll miss out on exploring the charming city of Strasbourg, France’s very personal Capital of Christmas. It is a pity as a result of there are such a lot of issues to do in Strasbourg, it doesn’t matter what time of 12 months you go to.
Strasbourg is situated close to the Rhine River in France’s far east and is likely one of the finest locations to go to in France for households. A stone’s throw away from the German border at Stuttgart, Strasbourg has gone backwards and forwards between France and Germany a number of occasions over the previous few centuries.
The metropolis’s multi-national historical past supplies a extremely attention-grabbing cultural dynamic. Strasbourg’s structure, artwork, and delicacies give the town a singular ambiance that pulls on its French, German, and native Alsatian roots.
Strasbourg deserves its personal devoted go to, however because of the town’s handy location on many main European railway strains, it’s doable to make Strasbourg both a day or weekend journey from Paris—simply two hours away on the TGV practice.
Things to do in Strasbourg, France
1. Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg
Strasbourg’s most well-known landmark is its huge Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg, situated within the heart of the Grand Île (an island surrounded by the Ill River on one aspect and a canal on the opposite). Just standing outdoors of the Strasbourg cathedral to gawk at its gorgeous Gothic structure is value a couple of minutes of your time in your first day within the metropolis.
It is feasible to go contained in the Cathedral, though it’s a gloomy stone inside, typical of European cathedrals. However, the rose window is fairly gorgeous.
2. Astronomical Clock
Also situated contained in the cathedral is Strasbourg’s well-known astronomical clock, adorned with superbly crafted historic and legendary figures. It as soon as served because the official clock of Strasbourg.
The astronomical clock queue is separate from the remainder of the cathedral— the road begins on the Southern aspect of the cathedral (close to the appropriate transept.) The clock can solely be considered at sure occasions of day (this was round midday within the winter, however that is more likely to change seasonally.)
There can also be a small price to view the clock. I perceive that it’s doable to ascend the cathedral tower which supplies an attractive, panoramic view of Strasbourg, however the tower wasn’t open after I visited simply after Christmas. However, Rue Mercière supplies a superb view of the cathedral façade.
3. Palais de Rohan
Located throughout the plaza from the southern aspect of the cathedral is the Palais de Rohan, constructed within the mid-1700s for one of many Prince-Bishops of Strasbourg. Constructed in an attractive French model paying homage to lavish Parisian mansions, the inside is furnished like a palace.
The palace has a number of flooring and is right this moment residence to Strasbourg’s Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), the Musée Archéologique (Archaeological Museum), and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Decorative Arts Museum).
4. Museum Oeuvre Notre-Dame
If you have an interest in medieval and renaissance Catholic historical past and relics, the Museum Oeuvre Notre Dame supplies a surprising assortment of stone statues and different non secular artwork in an enormous however well-designed museum inside an attractive advanced with a courtyard.
5. Petite France
To the south of the cathedral and its surrounding sights is the Petite France neighborhood, an space of Strasbourg with retailers and eating places housed in a few of Strasbourg’s beautiful, outdated, half-timbered Alsatian homes. The neighborhood is located on the River Ill, and it’s a stunning place to go for a stroll, to buy, or to eat.
I actually loved L’Argentoratum, which presents conventional Alsatian dishes like tarte flambée (flammkuchen in German) and my favourite dish in Strasbourg, grumbeerekiechle (Alsatian potato pancakes).
Many of Strasbourg’s different extremely beneficial eating places are situated on the identical road (Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes) in Petite France, together with Maison des Tanneurs, L’Oignon, and Chan Chira. La Petite France is a good place to purchase Strasbourg’s well-known ache d’epices (which interprets to lebkuchen in German and gingerbread in English though it’s not precisely the identical factor) through the Christmas season.
6. Barrage Vauban
Further south and west in Petite France is the Barrage Vauban, a dam that spans the Ill River. The dam lies simply past Strasbourg’s well-known Ponts Couverts, an attractive stone-covered bridge with a number of towers. The dam has a viewing platform on prime which provides an attractive view of the bridge and the remainder of the Grande Ile.
7. Historical Museum
Located between the cathedral and Petite France is the town’s historic museum, situated in one more considered one of Strasbourg’s spectacular, old-timbered homes that used to function the town’s slaughterhouse.
The inside has attention-grabbing displays on the town’s historical past, together with sections on the totally different religions which have flourished in Strasbourg over time. While Alsace is primarily Catholic, it’s residence to many Protestant communities that grew within the area post-Reformation. Alsace, together with Germany’s neighboring state of Baden-Württemberg was additionally the place the Rhineland Jewish neighborhood developed nearly a thousand years in the past.
Practically all of Europe’s Jewish tradition originated from this area earlier than the mass migration of European Jewry to factors east. The museum additionally displays conventional costume and different historic artifacts from Strasbourg and Alsace from the previous a number of hundred years.
8. Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Poissons
The Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Poissons, which runs from the River Ill by the middle of Strasbourg, is a wonderful road for purchasing, consuming, and architectural sightseeing. Many of the Christmas markets in Strasbourg are situated on or close to this road.
Strasbourg’s Christmas markets are world-class. Laden with picket storefronts promoting conventional Christmas kitsch and serving up Christmas favorites like glühwein (mulled wine) and sizzling chocolate, Strasbourg’s Christmas markets are a should if visiting in winter. Strasbourg can also be identified for being one of many solely cities that retains a few of its Christmas markets open after Christmas Eve, so to not fear in case you can’t make it to Strasbourg earlier than the twenty fourth!
9. Place Gutenberg
If you might be searching for broad, European plazas with fairly homes, storefronts, and cafés, Strasbourg won’t disappoint! Just a pair minutes’ stroll from the cathedral is the Place Gutenberg. The expansive plaza is one other excellent spot to gawk at Strasbourg’s stunning French-German-Alsatian structure. The sq. is residence to a statue of, you guessed it, Johannes Gutenberg, who lived in Strasbourg from 1434-1444.
10. Place Kléber
A couple of minutes north of Place Gutenberg up Rue des Grandes Arcades is Place Kléber, which honors a well-known Seventeenth-century Strasbourg determine with a statue within the heart of the plaza. The plaza usually hosts farmer’s markets (even in wintertime).
Located on the sq. is the Aubette 1928, a grand, French-style edifice that’s now residence to a museum with modern artwork and a planetarium. Just off of the sq. is the Galeries Lafayette, considered one of France’s most well-known division retailer chains and an excellent place to do extra high-end purchasing.
11. Parc de l’Orangerie
Strasbourg is much much less touristy than Paris—even after I went at Christmas time— however the few crowds in Strasbourg actually skinny out after you stroll behind the cathedral. Continue strolling alongside Rue des Juifs and you’ll cross the canal into the newer a part of Strasbourg.
To the left is the Jardin de la Place de La Republique and the Palais du Rhin. Farther north and east is the Parc de l’Orangerie, an attractive, expansive inexperienced space. It is a beautiful place to take a stroll or go on a motorcycle journey, and there are various family-oriented issues to do and see inside the park, together with the zoo, a playground, and a canine park.
Just north of the Orangerie is an enormous advanced the place the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights, amongst different organizations, are situated.
It is feasible to tour the within of those websites. Entrance to the European Parliament is freed from cost however is obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation. Check to see whether or not or not the parliament is in session whenever you go to. Visits to the Council of Europe have to be booked upfront. Visits to the European Court of Human Rights are typically solely open to particular teams (like regulation college students) and needs to be booked a number of months upfront.
Getting to Strasbourg
Getting to and from Strasbourg is kind of straightforward. The important practice station is situated very near the Grande Ile. Trains run incessantly to main European cities and railway hubs, together with Paris, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Brussels, and Basel, in addition to to native locations in Alsace, Lorraine, and southwestern Germany, together with Colmar, Mulhouse, Haguenau, Metz, Baden-Baden, Offenburg, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg.
Strasbourg additionally presents fantastic lodging choices, like Hotel Hannong close to Place Kléber. The resort has an outdated, stunning inside however very trendy rooms. Hannong is connected to an amazing bar, and the resort breakfast (not complimentary however so value it) is divine.
Strasbourg is such an underrated metropolis. So go! The structure is gorgeous; there’s a proliferation of nice museums and exquisite areas to stroll, the purchasing and restaurant scene is spectacular, and also you gained’t should struggle crowds such as you do in Paris.
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Today’s visitor publish is written by Max Levine. Max has been touring ever since he can bear in mind along with his household. In latest years, he has been the one who plans holidays for his household and for himself, from researching airfare and railway tickets to crafting itineraries. Max has traveled loads each within the US and internationally. He has additionally developed a penchant for writing. Max hopes to proceed pursuing alternatives to journey and write each in school and past that. All images by Max Levine.