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Strasbourg, the European capital
Are you looking for your next holiday destination? How about Strasbourg? This Alsatian and European capital is the ideal destination for a rewarding city break. With French and German influences, medieval and modern architecture and haute cuisine served in generous portions, the city is home to a real melting pot of European cultures.
SEE
- Strasbourg Cathedral is without doubt the number one tourist attraction in the city. This impressive construction is not only a Gothic masterpiece, but also a genuine medieval picture book due to its hundreds of sculptures. A curious feature of the building is the asymmetrical west façade with its incomplete south tower. Today, this part of the cathedral serves as a viewing platform, which is reached via a challenging climb up 332 narrow steps. Despite the exertion, it is well worth the effort, as the views from the top are simply breathtaking – extending over the narrow streets of the Old Town and the European Parliament to the Rhine valley, the Vosges and the Black Forest.
- Take a stroll through Petite France, the most picturesque quarter of Strasbourg's historic centre. In this neighbourhood (formerly home to fishermen, millers and tanners), the river Ill and three small canals flow past half-timbered houses dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, which feature spacious inner courtyards and tall pitched roofs. Nowadays, the entire district is pedestrianised, and its narrow lanes and many small shops make it a magical place to discover on foot. There are also plenty of spots to rest and relax, with countless cafés, restaurants and beautiful terraces allowing you to experience Alsatian hospitality for yourself.
- Haus Kammerzell is listed as one of the "1000 places to see before you die" in the well-known book of the same name by Patricia Schulz – and with good reason, as it is one of the most beautiful late-Gothic German half-timbered houses still in its original form. Take a look at the richly decorated 16th-century façade with its blend of sacred and secular elements and its classical and medieval influences. You're also in the right place if you are feeling peckish after your tour of the city, as the building is home to a superb restaurant.
DO
- A boat trip on the Ill is definitely worthwhile if you are only in town for a short time and want to see as much as possible – or if you just want to take in the main sights from the comfort of the river :-) The 70-minute boat trips run throughout the year, and generally visit the famous tanners' quarter of Petite France, the Ponts Couverts, the Vauban Dam, the Neustadt district (dating back to the Imperial German occupation of Alsace), and the European Quarter.
- Experience a "De Stijl" masterpiece from the 1920s: following extensive restoration work completed in 2006, visitors now once again have access to the avant-garde entertainment complex created by Theo van Doesburg, Hans Jean Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Known as Aubette 1928, it features a cinema/dance hall and foyer bar.
- Not far from the European Quarter is the Parc de l'Orangerie, the oldest park in the city and a popular destination for joggers, couples, Sunday-morning strollers and families. With its countless playgrounds, boating lakes, vintage car track and zoo (including a petting zoo), the park is fun and relaxing for kids and grown-ups alike. One very special feature of the park is that you can also see the symbol of Alsace – the stork – close up in its natural environment. A truly spectacular experience!
EAT
- A word of warning: vegetarians will generally have a tough time in Strasbourg and elsewhere in Alsace, as meat and sausages are at the heart of the region's cuisine. However, if you like your food rich, hearty and in generous portions, you're in exactly the right place.
- Sauerkraut (served with pork knuckle and sausages), onion tart, Baeckeoffe (casserole), tarte flambée and foie gras are just a few of the local specialities you can enjoy in the city's "Winstuben" – the typical cosy and welcoming guesthouses found in Alsace. Bon appetit!
- Alsatian wines are the perfect accompaniment to these culinary specialities. Seven varieties are cultivated in Alsace, producing light and fruity wines that are prized not just within the region, but around the world.
How do I get to Strasbourg by train?
Thanks to its central location in the heart of Europe, Strasbourg boasts superb connections to the European high-speed rail network. You can get there in under two hours from Paris by TGV®, for example. Strasbourg can be accessed directly from other countries too: from Brussels in just 3 hours 34 minutes with TGV® Brussels-France; from Luxembourg in 1 hour 32 minutes with TGV®; or from Frankfurt in just 1 hour 53 minutes with TGV®/ICE France-Germany.
Book these (and other) connections online >
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