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11

Strasbourg Travel & Sightseeing Guide

Filed Under France

A trip to Strasbourg
Strasbourg offers visitors a hearty blend of Franco-Germanic cultures, a strong taste of history and a festive nightlife, making this Alsacian city an enticing choice for travellers seeking an attractive and laid-back destination.

Flights to Strasbourg
Strasbourg International Airport serves direct international and domestic flights from a range of cities. Air France is the main operating airline, with several daily flights to and from Paris. A shuttle bus takes travellers to Baggersee tram and bus station, which links directly to the town centre via the tram line.

The Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport is located in Germany, about 36 miles from Strasbourg. Frankfurt International Airport is about three hours away, and both airports are accessible by bus or train. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Strasbourg try Expedia.

Although Strasbourg is easily explored by foot, you can also rent a bicycle or hop on the city’s network of buses and trams.

Strasbourg

Sightseeing in Strasbourg
A leisurely stroll through the city centre is the best way to explore the different sights. The Notre-Dame Cathedral commands attention with its towering spire and beautiful stained glass windows. From the viewing platform inside the spire, you can gaze down at the old town, and take in fantastic views of the Black Forest and the Vosges. The cathedral also houses the well-known Pillier des Anges, a delicate 13th century pillar to which visitors flock.

The quaint La Petite France neighbourhood is also a worthwhile area for wandering, with its well-kept half timbered houses lining the streets. Noteworthy museums include the Musée de l’Oeuvre Notre Dame, the Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art and the Musée Alsacien. The Palais des Rohan is a 17th-century palace that also houses three museums. Strasbourg is home to several significant European institutions. The main squares, Place Kleber and Place Gutenburg, hold the seats of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Alsatian cuisine is served up at traditional restaurants all over the city, the standard dish being a generous portion of sauerkraut, or choucroute. Many other local specialties are offered, often accompanied by an Alsatian white wine or a beer from one of the city’s breweries. Strasbourg has an unpretentious and lively nightlife, heavily centred around student districts. Many bars are located by the Place de la Cathédrale and Place des Halles.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
Wintertime brings many festivals and events to the region, most notably the city’s lively Christmas market. To enjoy warmer weather outdoors, the Orangerie is a lovely park with a great playground and a small zoo for children.

A short drive south of Strasbourg takes you to Colmar, a medieval town famous for its Gothic architecture and the Musée d’Unterlinden. Strasbourg is surrounded by beautiful countryside that is easily explored by the scenic Route du Vin (‘Wine Route’), which snakes along the base of the towering Vosges mountains. Wine tasting at the various vineyards is a prime chance to delve into local life. The Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains are choice destinations for those in search of some invigorating outdoor adventure.

Daytrips
Strasbourg is ideally located for daytrips into France and also just over the river into Germany. On the German side, Baden Baden is a German city also referred to as ‘the gate to the Black Forest’. Situated amid stunning scenery, this atmospheric fairytale city can provide the base for day excursions into the forest.

The scenic city of Heidelberg, also in Germany, is situated in easy reach of Strasbourg. This historic city of great charm is home to unique and fascinating examples of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, including Heidelberg Castle, the former residence of Prince Elector Ruprecht III.

The city of Colmar, situated between Strasbourg and Basel in France, offers many attractions which can be taken in on a daytrip from Strasbourg. The old town of Colmar contains the majority of the city’s attractions including the Maison des Tetes, which is decorated with elaborate faces, and St Martins Church, which is made entirely of pink stone.

Must-see attractions
Included in Strasbourg’s must-see attractions is the sandstone Gothic Cathédrale Notre Dame. This 11th century church is a spectacular example of European spiritual architecture with its exquisite stained glass windows, 142-metre high spire and famous astronomical clock. Strasbourg is also home to many other medieval churches, including Eglise Saint Thomas, where Mozart and Schweitzer both played on the church’s Silbermann organ.

Fondly referred to as ‘Petite France’, the streets and half-timber townhouses of this historic and enchanting area of Strasbourg-which is very similar to the nearby city of Colmar-are main attractions for visitors to the city. Strasbourg’s picturesque canal runs through this part of the city, adding to the wonderful bygone atmosphere of the area.

Other must-see attractions of Strasbourg include the classic Orangerie Park which features a small animal zoo and pretty park area, great for a picnic when the weather is fine, and also the Place Kleber, an excellent location for shopping and taking in the bustling activity of Kleber Square.

Best time to go
While Strasbourg can be very cold during the wintertime, December is a wonderful time to visit the city and when the city’s charming streets (particularly in the ‘Petite France’ area) are full of fairytale Christmas atmosphere.

The springtime is also a pleasant period to visit the city but if you want to avoid the tourist high season, stay away during the summer months of July, August and early September when crowds can spoil attractions.

Rainy day suggestions
While the outdoor botanical gardens may be off the agenda on a rainy day, the Observatory of Strasbourg, which studies stellar evolution, makes for an interesting visit on a wet or a cold day.

Also great for a rainy day activity is the Musée Alsacien. Housed in a Renaissance period building, the museum features lifestyle exhibits from 13th through 18th century Strasbourg, including religious object from various persuasions, antique toys, clothing and furniture.

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