Strasbourg, France
Notizen:
- sehr radfreundliche Stadt - evtl. mit Biketour Stadt erkunden? Bootstouren gibt es auch
- Elsass Wein
- Der Storch ist das Symbol/das Markenzeichen für Elsass
- wichtiger Ort für Europa - Parlament Besichtigung?
Sightseeing:
1. Grande Île
Strasbourg is crossed by the Ill river. As such, it’s made up of several islands, but the best known is the Grande Île (“Large Island” in French), which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.
It’s the historical centre of the city and the place where you can admire the main monuments and points of interest that make Strasbourg famous.
The world renowned Strasbourg cathedral (cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg in French), 4 medieval churches, as well as several hotels and palaces from the 18th century are located there.
The Grande Île is the ideal place to start your visit of the city and soak up its historical atmosphere.
2. Strasbourg cathedral
No doubt you will want to start your visit with the most famous monument of the city, the one you can see on all the postcards: the famous Notre-Dame de Strasbourg cathedral.
It’s 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 spire of Christianity dating from 1439
The large rose window on the main facade above the entrance
The astronomical clock, the most famous attraction of the city. Every day at 12:30 pm precisely, the automatons animation 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 Strasbourg cathedral is to go up on “the platform”. After an ascent of exactly 332 steps in a spiral staircase, you will have the privilege of contemplating the city from the cathedral’s roof. If the sky is clear, you can even see all the way to Germany.
Even if the entrance to the cathedral is free, the access to the platform will cost you 8 euros.
3. Visit Strasbourg medieval churches and St. Paul’s church
After the cathedral, you can visit the 4 medieval churches of the Grande Île of Strasbourg and the magnificent St. Paul’s church of Strasbourg (église Saint-Paul).
St. Thomas Church, which houses in its choir a funerary masterpiece of Baroque art: the tomb of the Marshal of Saxony (tombeau du Maréchal de Saxe).
The Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux Church, the first large Christian building in Strasbourg
The church of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune 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.
4. Place Gutenberg
Located a few steps from the Cathedral, the Gutenberg Square (place Gutenberg) was named after the inventor of the printing press who lived in Strasbourg for 10 years. A statue in his honour is erected there.
It was the administrative and political center of the city from the Middle Ages to the 18th century and you can see the Renaissance building of the Chamber of Commerce.
5. Place Kleber
Another very famous Square, if not the most important, is Strasbourg‘s main public square in Grande Île: Kleber Square.
It’s the meeting place for Strasburgers at major cultural or sporting events as well as the place where you can admire the huge Christmas tree during Christmas time.
Around the square there is a pink sandstone building dating from 1770, the Aubette. It’s name comes from the fact that soldiers went there every day at dawn to seek their orders of assignment.
The square is a very pleasant pedestrian area with its flowerbeds and water fountains.
6. Palais Rohan
The Rohan Palace (Palais Rohan) is another historic monument on the Grande Île and one of the main points of interest in Strasbourg. Originally a princely residence, it was home to 4 princes of the Rohan family, hence its name, and now houses 3 museums:
8. The Petite France
The Petite France (“Little France”) is Strasbourg’s most picturesque and visited area.
In the past, tanners, fishermen and millers used to live and work there, because of the water nearby.
9. Eat in an Alsatian winstub
It the many typical narrow alleys of the Petite France, 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.
To find authentic and home made products while avoiding tourist traps, I recommend you:
The Tire-Bouchon: 100% guaranteed home cooking thanks to the label of “maître restaurateur”
Mun’ s: for Munster cheese lovers, since the regional specialities are revisited here with this cheese
La Petite Mairie: a family restaurant with local suppliers and fresh produce. You absolutely need to try at least one of the 8 kinds of home made flamekueche.
10. The Covered Bridges
Next to the Petite France, you can see the covered bridges (“Les Ponts Couverts de Strasbourg”) that have retained their name despite they have no roof any more.
They were built to serve as a rampart to reinforce the fortification on the waterways.
They were used to connect the 3 medieval towers, vestiges of the ancient ramparts, and had covered wooden galleries, which have now disappeared.
11. Barrage Vauban
A few meters upstream of the covered bridges is the Vauban Barrage (Vauban Dam).
It was built to protect Strasbourg when the covered bridges became obsoletes because of the evolution of artillery. The dam allowed, by clogging its arches, to raise the level of the Ill river and flood the surrounding fields in order to trap the enemies in the mud.
You can cross the river by passing inside the dam, thanks to a corridor where many gargoyle statues are stored.
But the most interesting thing to do is to climb on the roof where there is a splendid panoramic terrace. Perfect to admire the maze of Strasbourg canals, covered bridges and the Petite France.
19. Strasbourg European institutions
Close to the Orangerie 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 “Parcours d’Europe” which will take you for a 2.5 kilometers walk around the European institutions.
Several explanatory panels and playful installations punctuate the route.
Of course you won’t be able to enter the institutions, but it’s always interesting to see the places where important decisions are made.
Moreover, the “Europe Day” (“fête de l’Europe” in french) takes place in Strasbourg every year in May. This day, visitors can enjoy cultural and sports activities as well as debates.
No doubt you will want to start your visit with the most famous monument of the city, the one you can see on all the postcards: the famous Notre-Dame de Strasbourg cathedral.
It’s 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 spire of Christianity dating from 1439
The large rose window on the main facade above the entrance
The astronomical clock, the most famous attraction of the city. Every day at 12:30 pm precisely, the automatons animation 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 Strasbourg cathedral is to go up on “the platform”.
After an ascent of exactly 332 steps in a spiral staircase, you will have the privilege of contemplating the city from the cathedral’s roof. If the sky is clear, you can even see all the way to Germany.
Even if the entrance to the cathedral is free, the access to the platform will cost you 8 euros.