Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg, France, one of the prettiest cities along the Rhine between Basel and Amsterdam located in the Alsatian region, is caught between French and German identities. The city centre is a World Heritage Site, a status bestowed upon by UNESCO. All I know is that it is stunning in so many ways and the one day we spent there was nowhere near enough time to experience all Strasbourg has to offer. The architecture, the history, the diversity, the people.
We started our tour at the Barrage Vauban covered bridge on the River Ill. It was built in the late 1600’s in beautiful pink sandstone and was built as a lock with a purpose of raising the water levels to flood everything south of the city. It was actually used in 1870 when Strasbourg was attacked by the Prussians. Now it is a visitor site with museums at the north end.
We started walking down beside the river through Le Petit France, the oldest and most magical section of Strasbourg. Colourful timbered houses, adorned with cheerful flowers had us feeling as if we had stepped into a story book. Down the paved streets, we admired the arched doorways and shuttered windows. So often we thought these were pedestrian walkways and would be surprised as a car passed us. The drivers were a little more tolerant than in the large cities.
I could have spent hours walking through these ancient streets, soaking in the architecture of centuries past, sit at a café enjoying café au lait and croissants and simply soak it all in. It was so peaceful, however, there are other neighbourhoods to admire.
Walking out of Le Petit France, we were confronted by the breathtaking Gothic style Cathedral of our Lady of Strasbourg. Although there are many Romanesque features within the cathedral, it is considered to be one of the best illustrations of Gothic architecture. Erwin von Steinbach is accredited with having the largest input to the design from 1277 to 1318. This cathedral held the record for being the tallest building from the 17th to 19th century. Photos cannot do it justice, you have to visit.
Walk around the corner and the beauty continues.
With still so much to see, it was time to get energized and sample a well-loved Alsatian favourite, Flammekeueche. Think thin crust pizza but thinner, with a white suce and onions and pork fat. It was delicious especially served with a tumbler of wine. We also enjoyed visiting the cheese store and bought some amazing cheese for snacking later. I also couldn’t resist stopping in the nougat store. Amazing!
After lunch we spent the afternoon wandering around the other neighbourhoods in Strasbourg. We enjoyed watching the kids on the carousel in Gutenberg Square and although the German architecture is not as pretty as the French, it is stunning in it’s own grandiose way. Very urban and eclectic collection of buildings built over several centuries. One of these is the historical museum in the Bas-Rhin neighbourhood. The building was originally a slaughterhouse and now houses articles and stories from the Middle Ages to contemporary times. With no particular focus you will find something that interests you whether it be economical, political, social or cultural. If nothing else, it was an air conditioned building with washroom facilities and a locker for your bags to give your aching back a break.
Situated around the museum are several small streets with street vendors and small stores as well as La Nouvelle Doune, an indoor farmers market, This part of town felt so different from Le Petit France, it was as if we had been transported to another town.
Strasbourg, France, a beautiful, interesting city with many unique characteristics and surprises around every corner. It was all so magical and such a shame to leave but one day I hope to return.