Strasbourg regularly sits on top of the podium. It's a city that knows how to get noticed! In July 2015, Strasbourg distinguished itself alongside Copenhagen and Amsterdam as one of the top three cycling cities. A nod to an art of living that combines with success in many economic and academic fields. Ranked 12th among cities where the percentage of graduates is the most important according to the newspaper Les Echos, it is mainly the 2nd banking place of France, the 2nd diplomatic capital after Paris and the 2nd fluvial port of France thanks to the Rhine. More than a city, Strasbourg is today a Eurométropole with strong values and resolutely turned towards the future. A pioneer in the field of urban mobility, Strasbourg offers its inhabitants an exceptional quality of life, where the art of living can be found in parks and gardens, museums, theatres, opera halls, debate venues and gourmet restaurants.
- 4th cycling city in the world according to copenhagenize, after Amsterdam and Copenhagen
- 12th city with the highest percentage of graduates (according to Les Echos newspaper)
- 2nd national diplomatic capital, such as Geneva or New York
- 2nd largest bank in France
To Visit in Strasbourg :
The Big Island
Strasbourg is a city crossed from one end to the other by the river Ill. As such, it is made up of several islands but the best known is the Grande Île, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.
It is the historical centre of the city and you can admire the main monuments that make Strasbourg famous, such as the famous Notre-Dame de Strasbourg cathedral, 4 medieval churches, as well as several hotels and palaces from the 18th century.
La Grande Île is the ideal place to start your visit of the city and soak up its historical atmosphere.
Notre Dame Cathedral
There is no doubt that you will want to start your visit with the most famous place of interest in the city, the one you can see on all the postcards: the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. It is the symbol of the city and the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world. Entry is free of charge.
It brings together three architectural masterpieces:
The highest arrow of Christianity dating from 1439
The large rose window situated on the main facade above the entrance.
The astronomical clock, the most famous attraction of the city. Every day at 12:30 p. m. precisely, his game of automatons begins and presents the different ages of life and the parade of the apostles before Christ. (free with the Strasbourg pass, which I'll tell you about after this top)
Another experience not to be missed if you visit the cathedral, the ascent on the platform. After an ascent of exactly 332 steps in a spiral staircase, you will have the privilege of contemplating the city on the roof of the cathedral. By a clear sky, you can even see all the way to Germany.
Visit medieval churches and St. Paul's church
After the cathedral and to stay in the ambience, you can visit the 4 medieval churches of the Grande Île de Strasbourg and the magnificent Saint-Paul de Strasbourg church:
The Church of St. Thomas, which houses in its choir a funerary masterpiece of Baroque art: the tomb of the Marshal of Saxony.
St. Peter the Old Church, the first large Christian building in Strasbourg
Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune church to see for its 14th century frescoes
Saint-Etienne Church classified as a historical monument
St. Paul's Church, located at the intersection of the Zorn and Mullenheim platforms.
Gutenberg Square
Situated a few steps from the Cathedral, is the Gutenberg Square, named after the inventor of the printing house who lived in Strasbourg for 10 years. A statue in his honour is erected there. It was the administrative and political centre of the city from the Middle Ages to the 18th century and you can see the Renaissance building of the Chamber of Commerce. It is also the ideal place to have a drink on one of the many outdoor terraces.
Kleber Square
Another very famous place, if not the most important, is Strasbourg's main public square in the Grande Île: Kleber Square. It is the meeting place for Strasburgers at major cultural or sporting events and it is there that you can admire the huge Christmas tree during Christmas.
Around the square there is a pink sandstone building dating from 1770, the Aubette, which is named after the soldiers who went there every day at dawn to seek their orders of assignment.The square is entirely pedestrian and very pleasant with its flowerbeds and water jets.
The Rohan Palace
The Rohan Palace is another historic monument on the Grand Island and one of Strasbourg's major landmarks. Originally a princely residence with 4 princes of the Rohan family, from where its name comes from, it now houses 3 museums:
The archaeological museum which proposes to discover the complete history of Alsace since prehistory
The museum of fine arts presenting a very rich collection of paintings, from Botticelli to Goyat and Rubens.
The Museum of Decorative Arts with its collection of furniture and ceramic pieces
If you don't want to visit the museums, I still advise you to go and admire the architecture and facade of the Rohan Palace, which deserves a photo!
Kammerzell House
Another building classified as a historical monument thanks to the richness of its typical half-timbered buildings in the Alsatian region, Kammerzell House is considered to be the most beautiful house in Strasbourg. On the beams, you can see wooden sculptures depicting secular or sacred scenes, all the signs of the zodiac or some important historical figures such as Charlemagne and Caesar.
And good news, if you are there at lunchtime, Kammerzell House is now a restaurant offering local cuisine. To taste, the speciality of the house: sauerkraut with three fish whose recipe is jealously guarded by the chef!
The Little France
Little France is the most picturesque and visited district of Strasbourg. In the past, tanners, fishermen and millers lived and worked there thanks to the proximity of the water. Today we come here to admire the numerous half-timbered houses that are extremely well preserved and to walk in the small cobblestone alleys at the water's edge.
The island is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, so you can fully enjoy the calm of the place.
Eating in an Alsatian winstub
It is in these alleys so typical of the little France that you will be able to find food in these traditional Alsatian restaurants, the Winstub. It's time to try your hand at sauerkraut, flambée pie, baeckeofe and dessert with the famous kougelhopf.
Covered bridges
In the extension of Little France, you can see the covered bridges that have retained their name despite the disappearance of their roof. They were built to serve as a bulwark to reinforce the fortification on the waterways. They were used to connect 3 towers of medieval bricks, vestiges of the ancient ramparts, and had covered wooden galleries, which have now disappeared.
Vauban Dam
A few metres upstream of the covered bridges is the Vauban dam. It was built to protect Strasbourg when the covered bridges were overtaken by the evolution of artillery. The dam allowed, by clogging its arches, to raise the level of the Ill and flood the surrounding fields in order to trap the enemies in the mud.
You can cross the dam from the interior, thanks to a corridor where many gargoyle statues are stored. But above all you can also climb on the roof where there is a magnificent panoramic terrace to admire the maze of Strasbourg canals, covered bridges and the Petite France.
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
As long as you are in the Petite France district, take the opportunity to visit the museum of modern and contemporary art not far from the dam. You can see works by Monet, Picasso and Brauner. See also its library, auditorium and graphic art room. And here too you can enjoy a drink on the panoramic terrace.
Historical Museum of Strasbourg
If you are interested in Alsatian history and culture, you can visit the Historical Museum of the city, which retraces the city's urban history with a collection of models, maps but also objects from everyday life from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution.
Alsace Museum
And to complete it all, take a short tour of the Alsatian Museum, which dedicates several rooms to recreating interiors typical of Alsatian artisanal life such as a forge or a joinery and presents traditional costumes or furniture.
Zoological Museum
Finally, to finish the tour of the museums in Strasbourg, especially if you are accompanied by children who will not necessarily be interested in paintings or models, I advise you to go to the Zoological Museum which houses a collection presenting the fauna of the Arctic and Antarctic with stuffed animals and naturalized insects and butterflies.
It is not really typical of Alsace, but the museum offers a good moment of relaxation and discovery with your children!
Broglie Square
Broglie Square is not a square per se, but rather a long tree-lined walkway.
Take a walk to admire several 18th century mansions:
- City Hall
- The prefecture
- The Banque de France: a small anecdote, this is where the Marseillaise was sung for the very first time.
- The Strasbourg Opera House
It is also on this square, where every year there is an event known throughout the world, the famous Christmas market, of which I speak to you in more detail just below.
Christmas market in Strasbourg or Christkindelsmärik
It is the oldest and most famous Christmas market in France. More than 300 chalets are scattered over a dozen sites, including the Cathedral Square and along Broglie Drive. There are of course Christmas decorations, all kinds of handicrafts and local and regional food products. It attracts nearly 2 million visitors in a single month of opening, so you have to love the crowd, but breathe a good breath and let the Christmas spirit penetrate you and everything will go well!
During this period, all the shop windows of the shopping streets are adorned with grandiose illuminations and the inhabitants also play the game by decorating the facades of the houses and their balconies.
And for food lovers, there is a special Christmas market in Strasbourg on the fish market square and the terrace of the Rohan palace. It brings together all the guilds of craftsmen: bakers, farmers, winegrowers, winemakers, artisan brewers... Enjoy a good mulled wine or a beer from Alsace accompanied by a little foie gras to prepare your stomach for Christmas.
Orangery Park
After strolling through the small alleys, go for a walk in the park of the orangery to take a breath of fresh air. It is the oldest and largest park in the city with more than 26 hectares. This park, as much appreciated by the Strasburgers as by tourists, allows you to walk, to practice jogging and there is even an area reserved for skateboards. The children have a merry-go-round, several playgrounds and a mini zoo with free access.
You can also enjoy a large lake with canoe hire and sale of ice-cream, waffles and other delicacies.
Finally it is here that you can observe the emblematic animal of Alsace: the stork. Many trees shelter their nests in all seasons.
The European institutions
Not far from the park, you will find the institutions that make Strasbourg the capital of Europe:
- The European Parliament
- The Council of Europe
- The European Court of Human Rights
To discover them, I advise you to follow the Europe course which will take you for a walk of about 2.5 kilometers around the European quarter. Several explanatory panels and playful installations punctuate the route.
Of course you won't be able to enter the premises, but it's always interesting to see where certain decisions are made concerning us all. Moreover, every year in May Strasbourg organises the "Europe Day" with cultural, sports and debates, but what attracts the most visitors is the European Parliament's open day.
Visit Strasbourg by boat
Boating on the canals is one of the city's main attractions, and probably one of the best ways to visit Strasbourg. The departure is made at the foot of the Rohan Palace with the Batorama company which proposes 2 types of boats: covered or discovered, so you will be able to make this walk at any time.
You will have the choice between 2 circuits:
Strasbourg, more than 20 centuries of history "which lasts 1h10 and will take you through the small France, the Vauban dam and through the European institutions that I spoke to you about above.
Strasbourg, Grande-Île "is 45 minutes long and concentrates on the city centre, so you won't have to go through the European site.
Another option to visit Strasbourg by boat, opt for a lunch cruise with the boats of l' Ill. Departure every Tuesday evening for 2 hours.
Take a bike ride
As you can see, Strasbourg is very easy to visit on foot as many areas are reserved for pedestrians, but if you like you can also cycle around the city. There's no doubt you'll have plenty to pedal with its 500 kilometres of bike paths!
For example, the tourist office offers a 10 km itinerary to discover the city, but of course you can also walk along the canals and through the alleys by yourself.
At the gates of Strasbourg you can try your hand at the fort trail, an 85 km cycling route that will take you on either side of the Rhine and therefore to Germany. This tour crosses many landscapes such as the countryside and forest but also typical towns and villages. It is not very difficult, so you can go with your children.
Typical villages to see around Strasbourg
If you think you have been around Strasbourg and are not fed up with half-timbered houses, don't hesitate to visit the typical villages nearby, which are also very famous:
Colmar with its very well developed little Venice district and its old town.
Eguishem with half-timbered houses, flowered fountains and balconies and its ramparts.
Riquewihr is one of the most beautiful villages in France, particularly for its location in the middle of vineyards.
Obernai whose historical centre has very beautiful medieval houses.
Saverne and the Château des Rohan, which dates back to the 18th century. It is also called Saverne Castle.
Alsace Wine Route
If you have more time, want to visit a little more than Strasbourg and its surroundings and of course you are a wine lover, the wine route is for you!
It is the oldest wine route in France. From Tann to Marlenheim, this 170-kilometre itinerary will take you through the communes of Alsace to discover white wine. On this course, more than 300 wine estates and 67 wine-producing municipalities are also among the most beautiful villages in France.
On the programme: visit of the cellars, walk in the vineyards and villages and wine tasting. The months of July and August are particularly favourable with the numerous wine fairs organized in the villages.
Europa Park
About 60 kilometres from Strasbourg is Germany's largest amusement park, Europa Park. On 85 hectares, more than 100 rides to entertain and excite you. The park is made up of different neighbourhoods, each referring to a country. Ireland, Iceland or Italy, you will have the choice! There's even a flight simulator that just opened.
Visit the castles around Strasbourg
The Alsatian region has many castles on its territory but I have chosen 2 of them fairly close to Strasbourg, which complement each other well for a short half-day visit.
- Castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg
First you can go to the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg which is considered as the castle impossible to circumvent because it has been completely renovated. It is the best known and therefore the most visited in Alsace.
Due to its geographical position on a rocky outcrop it offers a magnificent view of the Alsace plain. Do not hesitate to visit the surrounding forest and take a tour of it to admire the viewpoints. Inside visits and cultural events are also organized. If you wish, it also has a restaurant.
You will find all the information about visiting times and prices on the official website of the castle.
In another genre, that is to say slightly more dilapidated, go and see the Haut-Barr castle. The castle stands on 3 large rocks connected between them by the devil's bridge and stairs that will allow you to reach the top.
It is not the castle that will impress you the most by its architecture, but its main interest is the view it offers on a large part of the plain, hence its nickname of "l' ?il de l' Alsace". It would even seem (I couldn't verify it myself) that in case of very good weather, you can see the spire of the cathedral of Strasbourg! Don't hesitate to confirm this rumour!
Strasbourg, an international city open to the world
With more than 450 million Euros invested in 2014, Strasbourg is a territory of foreign investments, mainly Belgian, German, American and Danish capital. It must be said that Strasbourg has assets to draw on in order to attract:
2nd French diplomatic city: 47 permanent representations (embassies) and 42 consulates.
A city in the French Top 5 of national and international congresses
Great international accessibility: 8 airports within 2h30 (Paris, Baden-Karlsruhe, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Basel-Mulhouse, Zurich, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam). Strasbourg is the 2nd largest French banking centre: 12 head offices of banks, 1000 establishments.
A TGV service that puts Strasbourg at the centre of the "magisterial" Paris-Budapest and Hamburg-Barcelona regions
The proximity of the Rhine makes it France's second-largest river port: the Rhine links Strasbourg to the world (and China) via Rotterdam.
A high tourist destination: its historical centre, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its 445-year-old Christmas market (the oldest in France), which has been exported several times to Japan (Tokyo) and Russia (Moscow), its quality of life and its cultural offer attract more than 3 million tourists. The European route and in particular the place of Europe are also major stages of visit through the city.
Strasbourg, at the heart of European markets, at the forefront of innovation
European, enterprising, experimental, ecological, ecological, ethical... Strasbourg deploys an economic strategy to attract companies, talents, and investors and to spread throughout the world. The medical technologies, labelled French tech, concentrate a tremendous potential of research, industrialists and startups. The future of medicine is partly at stake in Strasbourg! (medtech)
Creative activities (design, digital, publishing, arts and crafts) also have wonderful synergies and potential for growth and jobs in the region.
An emblematic place is dedicated to them (Shadok)
The tertiary sector already accounts for 82% of jobs in the Eurométropole, this sector is a priority axis with the construction of an International Business District at the foot of the European Parliament and a policy of attracting large European groups.
Strasbourg, a university in the city and integrated into economic life
The university has always been an integral part of the city. Close to its historical heart, in the heart of the German quarter, the University of Strasbourg UNISTRA alone concentrates nearly one in ten inhabitants. Strasbourg relies on the dynamism of its university and its many research laboratories to establish its reputation for excellence. It is a world-renowned innovation hub.
3rd regional research pole of the CNRS, Strasbourg has more than 3000 researchers. Its 4 competitiveness clusters (ABV, Hydréos, Véhicule du Futur and Energievie) also help to structure innovative sectors and promote research projects. A major university city: 1st university (outside Paris), 19th in the Shanghai rankings for chemistry, a recognized scientific excellence with 4 Nobel Prizes in practice (chemistry, biology and medicine) and an Albert-Lasker prize (medical research), a high proportion of foreign students (20% of the total number of students).
Unistra
Strasbourg, diplomatic and cosmopolitan capital
Strasbourg's geographical location at the heart of the European markets, but also its torn history between Germany and France, make Strasbourg the seat of three European institutions, emblematic of human rights and democracy: the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and of course the European Parliament.
Strasbourg is therefore a very cosmopolitan city: its international community represents 22,000 people. Almost 13% of Strasbourg's population is of foreign origin. Its university has 20% of students from elsewhere, with more than 150 nationalities represented. Finally, the conurbation forms a Eurodistrict with the border district of Ortenau, whose joint projects aim to make life easier for residents on both sides of the Rhine.
