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What to See & Do in Strasbourg, France | |
| Strasbourg is a small, charming city with lots to see and do, just two and a half hours away from Paris. | ||
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The center of Strasbourg—where most things of touristic interest will be found—is an island, the Grand Île, circled by the River Ill. The whole city center has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strasbourg is a very manageable size, and most of what you'll want to see can be accessed on foot. For those sights a little farther out, there's an excellent tram and bus system. The most visible feature of Strasbourg is its beautiful and unusual Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg. Made of red sandstone, its delicate structure rises high above the town, and the spire is visible for miles. The interior is just as lovely, with extensive stained glass. More... In walking distance from the cathedral are several excellent museums—the Alsatian Museum, the Historical Museum, the Museum of the Oeuvre Notre-Dame, and the Palais Rohan, which houses three museums. More... A great way to get oriented to Strasbourg is to take a boat tour on the River Ill. You'll circle the Grand Île and even go up to the Rhine, site of the European Parliament. En route you can admire La Petite France and other parts of the city. More... La Petite France is a picturesque area of Strasbourg, surrounded by canals and with lots of half-timbered houses. It's a great placee to stroll and admire the architecture and natural setting, and it's home to many restaurants. More... As you wander around the Grand Île, you'll come across a variety of interesting plazas, most of which have restaurants and cafés. The Place Gutenberg features a statue of this favorite adopted son, who did much of the work on his printing press in Strasbourg. Place Kleber features the historic Aubette building, with its many shops and boutiques. And of course the Place de la Cathédrale is in the center of it all. To the north, the Place Broglie is home to the Opéra, and the small Place Gayot is full of restaurants and bars, largely frequented by locals. Just across the river is the Place du Corbeau, site of one of Strasbourg's oldest houses (now a hotel). Across the river on the north side of town is the Imperial District, with its many majestic buildings from the late 1800s. More... If you want to go a little out of the center, you can take the tram to Droits de l'Homme and admire the European Parliament and the Human Rights Center. More... From the Droits de l'Homme tram stop, you can walk about 5 minutes to the lovely Orangerie Park, a great place to walk, relax and see storks, the symbol of Alsace, as well as other animals in the small zoo. More... On top of all that there is to see and do, Strasbourg is simply a charming city. It's architecture is distinctive and lovely, with sloping rooftops dotted with small windows. Many bridges cross the River Ill, making it easy to move around the city, and in summer they are decked with flowers. It's a wonderful place to walk, exploring small streets and interesting views. Strasbourg is also a big biking city, and you'll see lots of people cycling on the miles of cycle paths. Like many French cities, Strasbourg has a couple of bike rental options, including Vél'hop and Esprit Cycles. You can easily visit Strasbourg on a day or overnight trip from Paris. The TGV takes about two and a half hours, and particularly during the summer when the days are long, you'll have plenty of time to explore this fascinating small city and enjoy Alsatian Cuisine. If you have more time, consider going south from Strasbourg to explore the Alsace wine region, visiting such charming villages as Eguisheim or Ribeauvillé, or going to the interesting and beautiful small city of Colmar.
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Above, The beautiful Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg.
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