Strasbourg old city. Strasbourg: attractions and interesting places (with photos). Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg

Strasbourg is very ancient city and at the same time very beautiful. It’s not for nothing that its entire center, located on an island on the Il River, is included entirely in the list world heritage UNESCO. The Ile River is a tributary of the Rhine, and the border with Germany is only 3 km from Strasbourg. The city's border location determined its appearance. Throughout its history, the city often moved from Germany to France and vice versa, and absorbed all the best from these countries - German neatness and French charm, Catholicism and Protestantism.

Many people have probably heard that it meets in Strasbourg European Parliament and is home to the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights. For these power structures, an ultra-modern quarter was built on the outskirts of the city. You can even visit the European Parliament building, but due to the limited time we had, we only visited the sights historical center Strasbourg.

This is very easy to do on foot as you can cross the island from one end to the other in just 15 minutes on foot. But under no circumstances should you rush. An amazing collection is concentrated on the island architectural masterpieces. Among them Cathedral, Covered bridges, Roan Palace and other vivid evidence of the secular and spiritual life of the city from more than two thousand years of history.

Grand Rue and Gutenberg Square

First of all, we went to Strasbourg Cathedral. It is the heart of the city. On the way, we walked along Grand Rue; many French cities have a street with such a simple name. We looked at the magnificent half-timbered houses.

Grand Rue

Most of the streets in the historical center of Strasbourg are pedestrian and narrow; modern car traffic has nothing to do on such streets; you need to walk along them and enjoy the walk, looking at old houses and very modern, but at the same time harmoniously designed shop windows.

It is difficult to photograph Strasbourg, because the streets are very narrow, there is absolutely nowhere to go. Therefore, the house can only be captured in parts, alas. There are many houses in Strasbourg with such intricate bay windows, this is just one of them as an example.

The beams of many half-timbered houses are very old and worn. Strasbourg, of course, suffered in World War II, but to a much lesser extent than Cologne, Dresden or Warsaw.

Plants and flowers add special picturesqueness to the houses.

Alsace is generally a very flowery place.

We crossed Gutenberg Square. He invented the method of printing books using typeface. In 1455, the first Bible printed by printing was published in Strasbourg. The invention of printing contributed to the prosperity of Strasbourg. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the city was the capital of book printing, playing a decisive role in promoting the ideas of the Reformation.

Next to the Gutenberg monument there is an old children's carousel, almost the same one we saw in Avignon at the beginning of our year.

The Cathedral Square is decorated with the Kammersell House with its seventy-five carved windows. This is the largest and most beautiful house of all the half-timbered buildings in Strasbourg. There is a restaurant there, and later we had dinner there.

Strasbourg Cathedral

Strasbourg Cathedral is simply huge, before the cathedrals in and were completed. Strasbourg Cathedral was for more than 200 years the tallest cathedral in the entire Christian world. It was built, as expected, over two and a half centuries, from 1176 to 1439. The finishing took even longer.

It is not possible to photograph it entirely with my camera, so I stole a photo of the general view of the cathedral from the Wikipedia website for clarity. Here it is photographed in the rays of the sun and therefore has a slightly yellowish tint, in fact it is pink, I even thought at first that the cathedral was made of granite, but no, it turns out it was built from local pink sandstone.

The following photographs are mine and better reflect the true color of the cathedral. Compared to the Cologne Cathedral, the Strasbourg Cathedral looks almost clean; the dust of centuries has not ingrained itself into it. By the way, for some reason there are a lot of gypsy beggars in Strasbourg. There they are sitting on the porch just under the sculptures of Virtues conquering vices.

The stone carving is, of course, colossal.

The interior of the cathedral is no less interesting than its intricate facade.

When visiting the cathedral, you are immediately struck by the fact that most of the original stained glass windows have been preserved. The oldest stained glass windows from the 13th century depict successively the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation

Most of all visitors to the cathedral, of course, are attracted by the astronomical clock. A whole team of Swiss watchmakers took part in the creation of this wonderful watch; they completed their work in 1570. The watch shows not only the time, but also the day, month, year, zodiac sign, moon phase, planetary positions and some astronomical data (for example, the watch accurately predicted the lunar eclipse of March 28, 2006). Every 15 minutes there is a mini show of moving figures, but the fullest show starts once a day at 12:30.

I was amazed by the trick with the paid lighting of some parts of the cathedral, I have never seen anything like this. For example, to get a better look at the astronomical clock, you need to put a 20-cent coin into a special apparatus and the light will turn on. In summer the cathedral is quite light, but in winter you will definitely have to fork out some money.

In general, European economy amazes me, in the winter we visited, they turned off the lights there immediately after the end of the service, this despite the fact that we paid for the ticket, what a waste.

Theatrical performance at the walls of the cathedral

We got to see a whole performance at the walls of the cathedral quite by accident. At first it seemed to us that the guard was about to be removed, because music started playing, a flag on a pillow was brought out, and the guard’s attire of course raised some doubts.

But what happened next was simply enchanting and very funny, the artists played great, despite the heat and their non-summer clothes.

At the walls of the Stasburg Cathedral, they raised the English flag with jokes and jokes, and later the Queen of England herself arrived in a rare car. The action took place on English.

The Queen took a tea set from her purse and drank her five o'clock tea, as befits a queen, made a speech from the throne and washed it all down with champagne. We laughed for probably 40 minutes, all these simple actions were so comical.

Roan Palace and houses along Morocco Street

The Roan Palace is located opposite one of the facades of the cathedral. Cardinals from the Roan clan lived in the palace at one time, as many as 4 generations. Now within its walls there are three museums - the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Not only the kings of Europe imitated Versailles, the cardinals also built themselves a palace in the spirit of Versailles, and they received Louis XV and Marie Antoinette there.

On Safyanova Street, the former Shoemakers Street, you can photograph every house. The photo below shows a house with carved beams.

Many windows are decorated with flowers, and almost all houses have restaurants and cafes on the ground floors.

Again a house with a bay window and flowers.

We headed along the picturesque embankment to the Petite France area.

Petite France

The Petite France district is probably the cutest in all of Strasbourg. The name is very romantic until you read the guidebook. In fact, in the area there was a hospital where they treated the “French disease”, or syphilis, which spread at the end of the 16th century due to the fault of the soldiers of the army of Francis I. The hospital no longer exists, only one name remains, which to this day bears this old quarter rugged with canals tanners.

There are numerous water buses running along the river as there is plenty to see along the embankments. Ahead is a drawbridge. In the photo below, the bridge has already been opened for the passage of one of the trams.

Classic meat tartare

We had dinner at Kammersel's house near Strasbourg Cathedral. Dad was ordered cabbage with sausages, I was given a salad, and Pasha was ordered French fries with meat. It seemed like you couldn’t imagine a more conservative dish, but it was with this dish that we were in trouble. The meat turned out to be just raw minced meat; it never occurred to me that you could eat or even serve raw minced meat in restaurants.

The menu was in English and there was nothing wrong with it; there was definitely the word meat and something about sauce. Now I googled it and it turns out that French-style meat tartare is raw minced meat, so beware of tartare in France.

Covered bridges

This is another one of the most picturesque places in Strasbourg.

After dinner, at dusk, we went to the Covered Bridges and the Vauban Dam. Previously, there were 24 such towers on the river, now only 3 remain. The towers were built from 1230 to 1250 for the defense of the city. Previously, the bridges between the towers were fortified structures like the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence.

At about 10 pm we went to look for a tram stop and saw a disco near the walls of the Church of St. Thomas. How can people want to dance when it’s +39 outside?

And in Strasbourg the fun continued, an evening light show was shown at the Strasbourg Cathedral, musicians walked the streets of the city, and theatrical performances were staged in the squares. Crowds of people continued to wander through the streets of the hot city.

Despite the terrible heat, we really liked Strasbourg, a very picturesque city. I would also like to see the Orangerie Park, but we no longer had the strength, and it was late. If you have a whole day in Strasbourg, you can probably have time to cover all the sights of Strasbourg: the city center, the Orangerie park and the European Quarter. It would be nice to visit Strasbourg before Christmas; they say they have one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

This was almost the end of our journey; the next day we went to Travemünde to board the

Highlights

The first human settlements on the site of modern Strasbourg date back to 6,000 BC. e., in the XIV century BC. e. Celtic tribes settled here. From the 9th to the mid-20th century, Strasbourg repeatedly passed from France to Germany and back. Only since November 23, 1944, the city has permanently belonged to the Republic of France. Among the famous personalities of Strasbourg, it is worth highlighting the first European book printer, Johann Gutenbeng, who lived here from 1434 to 1444.

Today, Strasbourg is one of three cities in the world, along with Geneva and New York, that are not capitals of states, but where the headquarters of international organizations are located: the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the International Institute for Human Rights, the European Parliament, the European Science Foundation, European Youth Center, etc.

Strasbourg has long been an important industrial center of France, but the modern economy of Strasbourg rests on such areas of economic activity as creative activities (art, cinema, music, press, architecture, design, etc.), medical technologies, tourism services and technologies in the field mobile devices.

Strasbourg is one of the most important tourist centers France, thanks to its rich historical past, reflected in the city's architecture and unique museum exhibitions, as well as its modern status as the “parliamentary capital” of the European Union.

On the city streets, except French, you can often hear German spoken, since many citizens or people from neighboring Germany live and work here. The staff of hotels, most restaurants, souvenir shops and other service establishments speaks excellent English.

Climate and weather

The climate of Strasbourg is of the continental type, characterized by a significant daily and seasonal temperature range. Winters in Strasbourg are cold and snowy. In some years, the air temperature can drop below –15…–20 °C. Steady warm weather arrives only in May and can last until the end of September. The average daily summer air temperature is +23…+25 °C. A special feature of Strasbourg is the almost complete absence of wind, which is due to the proximity of the mountains. The greatest amount of precipitation falls between May and August, so in the summer the city is stuffy and humid, which is quite difficult for many people suffering from heart disease. The best time The best time to visit Strasbourg is the end of summer - the beginning of autumn.

Nature

The main natural decoration of the city is the deep and fairly wide river Ile, whose waters often cause flooding of some areas of the flat Strasbourg. The silt overflows its banks most often in the spring during the snowmelt period and sometimes during summer rainstorms. Also not far from the city flows the Rhine River, which is connected to Il by a canal system.

The Vosges and Black Forest mountain ranges approach Strasbourg on both sides, but the city itself is characterized by an almost complete absence of elevation changes; only in the historical center can one notice low hills, on which traces of the first settlements were found on the territory of modern Strasbourg.

The abundance of waterways and dense ancient buildings did not allow the creation of numerous parks and public gardens here, as was customary in other French cities, even the magnificent Botanical Gardens were created on the site of the cemetery at the monastery of St. Nicholas in 1619. The Botanical Gardens of Strasbourg are one of the oldest gardens in France (after Montpellier Park). Today there are more than 15,000 plants brought from different corners globe. The botanical gardens of Strasbourg are great place for an introductory and contemplative holiday in the lap of amazing nature.

Attractions

Being at the crossroads of Latin and Germanic cultures, Strasbourg inherited magnificent architecture. Many consider the so-called “Little France” to be the most picturesque quarter of the city, consisting of small houses built between numerous canals. Covered bridges span the canals (Les Ponts Couverts), best view which opens from the Vauban Dam.

Walking along the ancient streets of the city, you will certainly notice the colorful half-timbered houses, the distinctive feature of which is the inclined beams that are visible on the facade of the buildings. This design prevails in houses preserved from the 15th–16th centuries. At that time, it was the most advanced type of building, capable of resisting the pressure of the Ilya, which often overflowed its banks. The most famous example of half-timbered architecture in Strasbourg is the Maison Kammerzell, built in 1427. In 1589, all 75 windows of the building were decorated with unique carved frames, on which you can see a variety of mythical and biblical characters, zodiac signs, musicians and figures depicting the five human senses. Also on the facade of the building are carved figures of women: Faith, Hope and Love. The inside of the house is decorated with frescoes.

Strasbourg is widely known for its Gothic Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame). The monumental and at the same time elegant building was erected over three centuries. And from 1439 until the middle of the 19th century it was the most tall building both in Europe and throughout the Christian world. In addition to the magnificent façade of the building, decorated with hundreds of statues, most of which date back to the 13th–15th centuries, and the beautiful interior of the temple, tourists are attracted by the amazing Astronomical Clock. The first clock of the Cathedral was created back in 1354. The ones we can see today date back to 1842. Every day, in front of the assembled spectators at 12:30, there is a small performance with moving figures of a person going through all stages of life from a child to an old man. Above this man are 12 apostles, and at the very top is the figure of Jesus Christ.

If you are interested in the historical and cultural past of Strasbourg, then you will be happy to visit the Rohan Palace (Le Palais Rohan), the building of which today houses three of the most significant museums of the city: the archaeological museum (Musée Archéologique), the museum of fine arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) and the Museum of Decorative Arts (Musée des Arts Décoratifs).

Nutrition

On the streets of Strasbourg you will find a simply unimaginable number of all kinds of restaurants, cafes, snack bars, bakeries, pastry shops and other types of places where you can eat deliciously. Pay attention to winstubs establishments, which are small family-type restaurants. It is in places like these that you can taste real Alsatian cuisine. The most famous restaurant in Strasbourg is Maison Kammerzell, located in the architectural monument of the same name.

Alsatian cuisine is famous for its centuries-old traditions and richness of ingredients. While in Strasbourg, it would be a sin not to try at least one of the famous Alsatian pies: onion pie (Tarte à l'oignon), pie with cheese and brisket "Flammeküeche" or sweet pie weird shape"Kugelhopf" Also very popular among sweet pies is the pie made with quetsches (Tarte aux quetsches), a unique variety of plum that produces huge, sweet, dark purple fruits, widely grown in the gardens of Alsace. Another gastronomic celebrity of Strasbourg is foie gras, which is prepared here not only from duck liver, but also from goose and pigeon liver, with the addition of pork or white poultry meat, and a delicious dish of veal liver is called “surlaverla” (Sürlawerla).

For all dishes you will be offered a wide selection of drinks, among which, of course, the leading positions are occupied by wine, schnapps, Gewurztraminer brandy, raspberry brandy and beer. And on the eve of Christmas, hot mulled wine is offered everywhere, the local peculiarity of which is that it is made not from red, but from white wine.

The proximity of Germany could not but affect the brewing traditions of Strasbourg, whose numerous breweries have been creating this intoxicating drink for more than 700 years. Beer production in factories and family breweries in Alsace accounts for about 70% of the French market. Among the large producers, it is worth highlighting the family-type company Meteor, which carefully monitors compliance with all ancient traditions in the production of beer. The city's restaurants sell the following varieties from this company: Wendelinus, Meteor Pils and Mortimer.

Among Alsatian wines, it is worth giving preference to white wines: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and Tokaj Pinot Gris.

Most of the city's restaurants specialize in traditional local cuisine, but you can easily find Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Greek, Japanese and other restaurants on the streets of Strasbourg. The city also has a number of establishments specializing in vegetarian food: Au Potiron, Pas Loin Du Coin, Poele de carotte and even a restaurant fast food Pur et Caetera.

Accommodation

Boasting magnificent ancient architecture and being the "parliamentary capital" of the European Union, Strasbourg attracts millions of tourists every year. Therefore, despite the huge number of various hotels, family hotels, B&B hotels, etc., it is recommended to take care of your place of residence in advance.

Price double room in 4-star hotels in the city varies from 200 to 415 €. Paradoxically, in the only 5-star hotel Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile there is not a single room more expensive than 260 €. The average price for a “three” is about 80–100 €. In more modest two-room apartments and apart-hotels you can stay for 50–70 €.

There are also several youth hostels in Strasbourg: Auberge de Jeunesse du Parc du Rhin, Auberge de Jeunesse Rene Cassin, Ciarus, Nuit d'Hotel, etc. The cost of a place in hostels in the city varies from 22 to 30 €.

Entertainment and relaxation

Throughout the year, Strasbourg welcomes participants and spectators to numerous festivals, fairs and other cultural events. Among the most popular events, it is worth highlighting the Night of Museums (Le nuit des Musées), the film festival “Celebration of Cinema” (La Fete du cinéma), the music festival “Celebration of Music” (La Fete de la Musique), the jazz festival “Golden Jazz” (Jazz d "Or) and, of course, the Christmas Fair (Marché de Noël). Every July evening, the houses, fountains and churches of the city are painted with thousands of lights. The doomsday "City in Lights" (L"Ill aux Lumieres) is always accompanied by musical accompaniment.

The cultural life of Strasbourg is rich and varied. Everyone can easily find entertainment to their liking, be it an original theater performance, a dance show, a cabaret, music concerts of all genres, etc. The following places are very popular among tourists: Le Kafteur, Au Camionneur, Le Cheval Blanc, Le Point D'Eau , Pôle Sud, etc.

In Strasbourg you will find many nightclubs, discos, themed bars open until late, barge bars moored along the Ile quay, cafes with live music, etc. Most of these establishments are concentrated in the historical part of the city and in the Krutenau quarter.

If you are traveling with children, be sure to visit the educational and entertaining science center Le Vaisseau. Visitors pass through 6 worlds (construction, water, human body, fauna, garden, mysteries of sight and sound) with more than 130 interactive elements. The entrance ticket for adults is 8 €, for children from 3 to 18 years old - 7 €, but on Saturdays tickets for everyone cost 6 €, daily after 16.30 - 3 €. The center is open daily, except Mondays, from 10.00 to 18.00.

The most active tourists enjoy walking around the outskirts of Strasbourg, where you can visit the wine yards of the region, take a boat trip on the waters of the Ille and the Rhine, play golf in an upscale country club, fly on a small pleasure plane, etc.

Purchases

On the streets of old Strasbourg you will find a number of shops selling clothes, shoes, accessories and cosmetics from world famous brands. In the city's largest shopping centers (Monoprix, Rivetoile, Galeries Lafayette and Auchan) you can buy all kinds of goods, from clothes to children's toys, household appliances etc.

For memorable gifts, you should go to one of the souvenir shops located on rue Mercière (Maison Bollinger, Reflets d'Alsace, etc.). They sell beautiful ceramics and dishes, decorative pillows with embroideries, as well as liqueurs and wines etc. The traditional decoration of souvenirs is the image of the symbol of Alsace, the stork.

If you find yourself in Strasbourg on the eve of Christmas, be sure to visit the annual Christmas market, which is held on the square in front of the Cathedral, as well as on the numerous adjacent streets and squares, which turn into continuous shopping arcades. While enjoying the joyful atmosphere of the upcoming holiday, you can buy original gifts, Christmas tree decorations, antiques, works of local artists, and also try original Alsatian treats (sweet waffles and donuts, ginger bread, salted pretzels, etc.).

Transport

The most convenient way to get from Russian cities to Strasbourg is either by air or by combining air and rail transport.

Strasbourg International Airport (Aéroport International de Strasbourg-Entzheim) is located approximately 10 km from the city center. Since there are no direct flights, you need to make a transfer in Paris, Amsterdam, Prague or Rome. The minimum cost of a round trip ticket is 310 €. There is a commuter train service between the airport and Strasbourg, TER. The ticket price is 4 €.

TGV high-speed trains connect Strasbourg with a wide range of European cities. By the way, Strasbourg ranks second among French cities (after Paris) in terms of the number of railway connections. Travel time between Strasbourg and Paris is 2 hours 20 minutes.

Urban public transport in Strasbourg is represented by buses (30 city and 11 suburban routes) and trams (6 lines: A, B, C, D, E, F).

The cost of 1 ticket is 1.6 €, 10 tickets - 12.9 €, a round trip ticket for 1 day - 3 €, a day ticket for city transport and suburban TER train lines - 4 €. Tickets are sold at newspaper and tobacco kiosks, at the offices of the CTS company that provides work public transport Strasbourg, and in special machines at tram stops.

If you are traveling by car, then in order not to waste time in city traffic jams, it is advisable to leave it in the parking lot and continue to travel by tram. In this case, you can purchase a single parking ticket and a ticket for travel on public transport Park-and-Ride (P+R) to the historical city center and back for 3.7 €. Parking in the center of Strasbourg is paid from Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 8 pm.

Many tourists prefer to get around the city and its surroundings by bicycle. Bicycle rental in Strasbourg is provided by Vélhop. The cost of an hour's rental is 1 €, a day - 5 €, a week - 15 €. The deposit for the bike is 150 € (refundable after returning the bike).

It should be noted that almost all the streets of the historical center of the city are pedestrian, but short distances do not tire inquisitive travelers at all, allowing them to fully enjoy the beauty of the ancient city.

Connection

Public telephones are located in many public places central part of Strasbourg. Telephone cards can be purchased at newspaper and tobacco kiosks.

To connect to an operator mobile communications you must contact the company office. In Strasbourg you will find a range of both large pan-French and small local providers. When connecting, you must have your passport with you.

Free Internet is available in all hotels in the city, as well as in many cafes and restaurants (Brant, the fast food chain Subway, Brasserie Le Michel, The Irish Times pub, etc.).

Safety

Strasbourg is a fairly safe city, but you should always be careful about the safety of your valuables, money and documents. You should not walk through the industrial areas of the city at night.

Due to the presence of a number of international organization headquarters in the city, you may encounter increased security measures in some places. You should always have identification documents with you.

Business climate

Strasbourg occupies a favorable position geographical location next door to a whole row European countries and plays an important political role in the life of modern Europe, which is why this city is often chosen as a place for business meetings by representatives of many companies. Many business conferences, product exhibitions, etc. are held in Strasbourg every year.

The city's excellent transport and banking infrastructure attracts huge investments to Strasbourg, aimed primarily at the tourism, medical and high-tech sectors. Having a wide selection of professional business consultants, translators, international lawyers and other specialists greatly simplifies the process of opening a business in Strasbourg.

Real estate

Owning real estate in Strasbourg has its significant pros and cons. The main advantages include the relative proximity of the city to many European countries and the natural beauty of Alsace, but there is a significant drawback in the form of environmental pollution in Strasbourg.

The price of 1 m2 for apartments ranges from 1,700 to 3,900 €, and the smaller the apartment, the more expensive the cost of 1 m2. The cost of houses ranges from 285,000 to 850,000 €, which equates to about 3,000–4,700 € per 1 m2.

Minimum long-term rental cost studio apartment in Strasbourg is 400 € for a one-room apartment and 630 € for a two-room apartment.

In the city you can easily purchase premises for running a business (trade, services, production). Price commercial real estate varies from 1,000 to 2,600 € per 1 m2.

If you are planning to spend several days in Strasbourg, during which you want to learn as much as possible about the past and present of the city, take advantage of the opportunity to save on entrance ticket to any museum in the city, at the entrance to the observation deck, on a boat trip on the river, etc., by purchasing a Strasbourg-Pass tourist card (14 € for adults and 7 € for children). Benefits on the card are provided within three days from the date of activation. The Strasbourg-Pass also entitles you to free use of a Vélhop bicycle for half an hour every day, a 50% discount on a second museum, a visit to the Vaisseau, a trip to tourist train, for an audio guide to the Old Town.

Cards are sold in Tourist office Strasbourg, which is located at 17 place de la Cathédrale. There you can also get detailed information about all the privileges that are provided to Strasbourg-Pass holders.

Sights of Strasbourg. The most important and interesting sights of Strasbourg - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

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Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg

Strasbourg, Place de la Cathedrale

For two centuries, Strasbourg Notre Dame was the tallest cathedral in the world. This is one of the largest sandstone buildings in Europe. But what really amazes the imagination about the cathedral is not so much its size as the stunning detailing of the decoration.

• Many people traveling through Alsace pass by Strasbourg, thinking that there is nothing to see in this capital city. Unforgivable mistake! Strasbourg is amazingly rich, beautiful and interesting. There are enough museums for cultural education, walking places for mental and physical relaxation, and authentic curious streets and buildings in order to absorb the special atmosphere of this city. After all, Strasbourg is almost Paris, only it is smaller, warmer and more intimate.

  The main and unsurpassed attraction of the city is the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is impossible to believe in it, it is impossible not to admire it, it is impossible to miss it.

  The main and unsurpassed attraction of the city is the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is impossible to believe in it, it is impossible not to admire it, it is impossible to miss it. Other important and iconic places for tourists - the quarter of traditional half-timbered Petite France, the famous “suspension” bridges with impressive towers, the Vauban dam and dam, inside of which the most interesting exhibitions are located. The squares and squares close to Notre-Dame also contain a lot of interesting things: here is the Kammertzel house, and the fountains on Kleber Square, and the small secluded New Church on the square of the same name, and Guttenberg Square with interesting building 16th century, where the commercial center of the Bas-Rhin department is now located.

  The imperial district of the city conveys the former monarchical grandeur of Strasbourg.

  The Place de la République, with its marvelous old magnolia trees blooming in the spring, preserves several important architectural evidences of German rule. The University Palace, built in 1884, is an excellent example of Italian neo-Renaissance. The neoclassical opera building (originally built in 1821) was badly damaged by German shells in 1870 and rebuilt in 1888. And the embankments of Strasbourg are not only charming with ancient mansions and willow branches hanging down to the water, but also the center of beautiful architectural and historical monuments: the old customs building, the Saint-Martin bridge, the Church of St. Peter the Younger with amazing frescoes. Of the museums, the most significant are, of course, the Alsace Museum in the very center, on the embankment of St. Nicolas, three museums in the Rogan Palace - archaeological, fine arts and applied arts, the Notre Dame Museum, the contemporary art. Less known, but also interesting - historical museum, zoological museum, planetarium in the observatory building with a wonderful viewing room.

  In terms of the cultural program, it is also interesting to visit the National Opera, listen to the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, which has existed since 1855, or the percussion ensemble, which has earned world fame over half a century.

  The newest attractions of Strasbourg are connected with the city's present as the center of European political life: this is the Palace of Europe, built in 1977, where the European Council meets, the stunning building of the European Parliament by the river, built in 1998, reminiscent of a glass whale sticking its back out of the water; futuristic building created for the Human Rights Committee. They all look very interesting, but getting inside, naturally, is not so easy for a mere mortal.

  The annual events taking place in the city are well worth a trip to Strasbourg.

  First of all, this is, of course, the Christmas market: Strasbourg is considered to be the best in the entire region.

  The market dates back to 1570, and every year it a whole month fun, food, wine and illuminations, which is visited by two million tourists from all over the world. Then in March there is an accordion music festival, in April - a festival of artifacts (a music festival of all genres mixed), a large music festival in June (the oldest classical music festival in France), a jazz festival in July, a contemporary music festival Musica in September-October, when the first a harvest of light and invigorating white wine, and the whole of Alsace is baking onion pies to accompany it, and, finally, another jazz festival under open air Jazzdor in November.

The Rohan Palace is one of the most luxurious historical buildings in Strasbourg and an outstanding architectural monument of the Baroque era. It is also famous for the fact that it houses three of the city’s most important museums - the Museum fine arts, the Museum of Applied Arts, and the Archaeological Museum.

The building has one basement and three upper floors. It was erected between 1731 and 1742 by the famous architect Joseph Massol according to the design of engineer Robert de Cotte. Construction of the Rohan Palace began on the site of the old dilapidated archbishop's residence. In 1744, King Louis XV came to the Rohan Palace, and at the beginning of 1770, the great Queen Marie Antoinette came.

In 1805-1806, Emperor Napoleon I visited here with his first wife Josephine Beauharnais. On his instructions, the halls and rooms of the palace were re-decorated and slightly remodeled. In 1810, Marie-Louise, Napoleon's second wife, spent her first night on hospitable French soil in the Rogan Palace. Currently, this place attracts many tourists from all over the world.

Coordinates: 48.58131100,7.75205600

River Il

The first tributary of the Rhine is quite full in winter. The lowest water level is observed in summer time. The river belongs to the Rhine-North Sea water system.

You can enjoy the splendor of the water space in the city of Strasbourg, which is cut by canals.

Coordinates: 47.46135600,7.26613000

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European Parliament building

Among the architectural attractions of the European Quarter of Strasbourg, two buildings deserve special attention: the Palace of Europe and the European Parliament building. The latter was erected in 1999 in the form of a huge wing made of steel and glass, which is reflected in the waters beautiful river Il. The building was conceived by the French architectural bureau; its work took first place in an international design competition, as it successfully combined baroque motifs and restrained classical forms. Today, the design of the European Parliament building is considered to embody European democracy in its architecture.

The attention of tourists is often attracted by the Eastern facade of the tower, which has an unfinished part - there are disputes and guesses about it. Some people think that in this way the authors tried to repeat the silhouette of the Roman Colosseum, while others see in this the features of the Tower of Babel. Others consider this amazing architectural incompleteness a reflection of the future process of development of interrelations in the European community. The European Parliament building in Strasbourg comes to life for only four days a month. The rest of the time it is empty and delights tourists with its appearance.

Coordinates: 48.59749800,7.76855200

The predecessor of Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg was a Roman sanctuary that existed on this site until the beginning of the 8th century. The first stone for the foundation of the cathedral was laid by Bishop Werner von Habsburg at the beginning of the 11th century. The nave and domes of the cathedral at that time were made of wood. A fire that broke out in 1015 again destroyed the temple, and the townspeople decided to rebuild it, but this time entirely from stone. Sandstone was brought from the nearby Vosges quarry, thanks to which the walls of the cathedral received a unique pink color, which repeatedly inspired poets to create bright poetic images.

The most beautiful part is considered to be the western facade, on which there are thousands of picturesque sculptures and decorative patterns made of stone; it looks especially beautiful at sunset. The stained glass windows of the cathedral are very good, which were removed and taken to Germany during the Second World War, but returned back after the end of the war.

Tourists also enjoy the astronomical clock, built in 1832. Their unique mechanism shows the orbits of the Earth, the Moon and several other planets known at the time (from Mercury to Saturn). The clock circle that rotates the slowest is the one that shows the precession of the earth's axis - one revolution is 25,800 years.

Coordinates: 48.58176000,7.75088500

Rue Marie-Cusse

Restaurants, nightclubs, shops and hotels - you can find it all on Rue du Maire-Kuss. But still, it is rightly called the street of hotels, since they are located here in gigantic quantities. They are mainly aimed at international tourists, and most of the rooms are rated 2 or 3 stars, which won’t put a big dent in your pocket. But if you are used to luxury apartments, then you should stay in the city center at Grande Î le.

Strasbourg - also perfect place for cycling. There are numerous cycle paths both in the center and on the rue du Maire Kuss. Conveniently, you can rent bicycles on the same street.

Coordinates: 48.58430100,7.73634600

Kleber Square

The city's largest square was named after General Jean-Baptiste Kleber, who was born in Strasbourg in 1753.

On the square there is a statue of Kleber, under which there is a small crypt with the remains of the general. All official ceremonies of the city, various events and celebrations take place here, and it is also here that the largest Christmas tree in the province is installed.

In the Middle Ages, there was a high church here, which was adjacent to the monastery of the Cordelier monks. In those days, the square was called Razutykh Square, and a little later it turned into a training ground. To the right of the sculpture is the guardhouse building, which after 1870 turned into a conservatory.

The square also has the Ciné-Balle leisure center and the Lafayette Gallery - shopping mall with fashionable clothes.

Coordinates: 48.58373300,7.74552200

Kammerzell Mansion

The Kammerzell House is one of the most famous medieval houses in Strasbourg, perfectly preserved to this day.

It was built in the 15th century, but only the first floor remained unreconstructed, and the remaining three floors and the attic were rebuilt in the 16th century. The windows of the house are decorated with carvings depicting mythological creatures, historical figures and biblical characters. It is interesting that none of the figures on the building are repeated.

Today the Kammerzell house houses a restaurant and a small 3-star hotel. All floors of the building are decorated in a modern style, but the first floor is designed in the tradition of a medieval atmosphere. Here, frescoes by artist Leo Schnug are hung everywhere on the walls: “The Torment of Tantalum”, “Ship of Fools”, “The Last Food of the Convict” and other works in the style of the Middle Ages.

Coordinates: 48.58201600,7.74958800

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Petite France Quarter

One of the most interesting areas of Strasbourg is the unusual Petite France quarter, where traditional buildings typical of Alsace have been preserved. The quarter owes its name to Francis I, who built a hospital here for soldiers suffering from smallpox.

Nowadays there is a school of St. Thomas that looks like a small castle, an old reform church, locks and a drawbridge built from Saint-Martin stone - one of the most beautiful bridges in Strasbourg. The quarter's attractions include the Lohkä s tavern, located on this site for several centuries, the Tanners' House, covered bridges, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Vauban Dam. Covered bridges are the main “highlight” of the ancient year - on their sides there are powerful defensive towers, and the bastions of the citadel go deep into the river, as if trying to reclaim living space from the water stream.

Coordinates: 48.58113600,7.74090900

The most popular attractions in Strasbourg with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Strasbourg on our website.

Individual and group

A trip to Strasbourg for those who love architecture, ancient buildings and the beauty of quiet streets. Mention of it dates back to the first century. The first name was Argentorat, it was a border city. Over the course of history, due to the constant transitions of the city from Germany to France, the cultures of the two peoples became intertwined. This left a peculiar imprint on Strasbourg.

Location

The city is located in northeastern France. It was located on the Ile River near the banks of the Rhine River. Rivers are connected to each other by canals. The Rhine River is the border between France and Germany.

The climate in this region of France is continental. The city is located between mountain ranges which protect it from the wind. In summer it is hot and polluted, and in winter it is cold. At the beginning and end of summer there are heavy rains and thunderstorms.

Traveling on your own is twice as economical and much more interesting. You can book an all-inclusive travel package.

The French city of Strasbourg is located on the border with Germany

How to get to Strasbourg

I decided to go to Strasbourg on my own. First, to Paris by plane (Charles de Gaulle airport) with Air France, from Paris to Strasbourg from Gare de l'Est by high speed train, distance 500 km, time 2 hours 20 minutes.

You can fly to Frankfurt or Karlsruhe in Germany and travel to Strasbourg by train or bus. You can fly with a transfer to Prague or Amsterdam, then by plane to Strasbourg Airport. It is located near the city. Then I go to the city by express bus or taxi.

You can stay at a hotel or private hotel. Payment from 50 euros and above.

Thousands of tourists come to Strasbourg. The hotels are similar to the palaces and castles of the French nobles. They are built in the style of the entire city.

What is the best way to get around in Strasbourg?

I advise tourists to walk along this magnificent city on foot, and if you decide to stay here longer, I recommend using the trams. And so that you do not get confused in the direction of movement of tram lines and branches, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the map.

Tram lines in Strasbourg

The tram in Strasbourg is probably the easiest way to get to any point in the city. All trams are equipped with comfort for passengers, and wall-to-wall windows will give tourists with cameras the opportunity to photograph local attractions on the go and will not let you get bored and you will be able to admire the city!

In total, the city has 5 tram lines and almost 60 stops. Trams start running from 4:30 in the morning until 00:30 at night. Tram lines are called letters of the Latin alphabet, each line is indicated by its own color:

• Tram A- from Illkirch Lixenbuhl station to Hautepierre Maillon
• Tram B– from Hoenheim Gare station to Lingolsheim Tiergaertel
• Tram C– from Neuhof station to Elsau
• Tram D- from Rotonde station to Aristide Briand
• Tram E– from Robertsau station to Bagersee

Tariffs (as of 2010):

• One way ticket = 1.3 €
• Return ticket = 2.5 €
• Package of 10 one-way tickets = 11.5 €
• Package of 30 one-way tickets = 32 €

Subscription:

• For one month – 40 €. Gives access to the tram/bus network for an unlimited number of trips from the first to the last day of the month.
• For one year – 400 €. Gives access to city transport for an unlimited number of trips for 1 year from the date of purchase of the subscription.

Tickets and passes are available from every machine at every stop in the city.

Old town

First of all, I headed to the Old Town. It occupies several blocks, which are located around the Cathedral.

This part has the most architectural monuments. The cathedral is a Catholic church and is a masterpiece of Gothic art. It is laid on Cathedral Square in 1176, it took almost 300 years to build. The cathedral is also called by another name Notre Dame, together with the lace spire (142 meters) was considered the tallest building of the Middle Ages in Europe. The cathedral has observation deck(332 steps), the cathedral and the platform are open for visits every day. From above you can see the entire city.

The cathedral's antique stained glass windows and biblical images delight you. There is an astronomical clock with figures that move. Organ music sounds in the cathedral. Notre Dame is made from local pink limestone. In the rays of the sun it shimmers with multi-colored shades. Cathedral Square itself is small, with narrow streets radiating from it.

Opposite the Cathedral stands the Episcopal Roganov Palace(built for the Cardinal Rohans), which houses the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts, and the Museum of Fine Arts. Napoleon, Louis, Marie Antoinette visited the palace.

Kammerzell House

Kammerzell House located on Cathedral Square, it belongs to half-timbered architecture (special building structure). The house was built in 1427. The lower floor is built of stone, while the upper floors are made of wood and decorated with carved sculptures. Alsatian artist Leo Schnug decorated the house.

The windows of the building are framed in the form of figures that depict musicians, zodiac signs, mythical biblical heroes, and a little organist. On the corner side there are three female figures carved, symbolizing virtue.

On the 2nd floor is a figure of Love with two children and a pelican (an allegory of parental love). On the 3rd floor there is a figure of Nadezhda holding a Phoenix bird (a symbol of immortality and rebirth). On the 4th floor there is an image of Vera with a griffin (a symbol of faith in Christ). The lower floor is built in the Gothic style, the upper ones in the Renaissance style, because the house was rebuilt. It is named after its last owner. On the ground floor there is a restaurant with excellent Alsatian cuisine.

I walk from the cathedral along Galantereynaya Street, there are many souvenir shops. You can buy something as a keepsake. On the street corner there is Olenya's pharmacy, the first mention of the building dates back to 1268. The house is decorated with frescoes by Leo Schnug. On the lower floor there is decoration on medieval themes, on the second floor there are frescoes using the grisaille technique. The ceilings are decorated with stucco in the form of allegorical figures.

At the corner of the pharmacy there is a column that extends from the front of the building. She was jokingly called the “belly meter”. Tourists, having fun, check the slimness of their figure by squeezing through the gap.

I turn and end up on Old Street Fish market to the Crow Bridge. After crossing the bridge, I find myself on Crow Square. The court used to sit on this square and pass sentences on criminals.

To the right is St. Nicholas Embankment, from which you can see the Old Hospital Square. The surviving tower and gate are the remains of an ancient city fortification and date back to the 14th - 17th centuries. There is a historic wine cellar on the hospital grounds, which offers tours and wine tastings. I pass by the Alsace Museum (museum folk culture). The embankment of St. Nicholas turns into the embankment of Charles Frey. The architecture of the houses deserves special attention. Here are Mill Square and St. Martin's Bridge.

It begins. A picturesque place for walking, you can take a boat trip along the Il River water bus. From here you will have a view of watchtowers and "Little France". This is a small area where artisans, fishermen, and tanners used to live. For example, the “tanner's house” was built back in 1572.

Further, they were part of the city’s fortifications. Initially, they were covered with a wooden roof, hence the name covered. They had walls and bars with loopholes. The towers on the bridges were intended to protect the branches of the Il River. The bridges were rebuilt because they no longer had defensive status. Today, Covered Bridges consist of a cascade of bridges and square towers. The two central towers have bastion fortifications. Each tower had its own function.

A separate tower is called the Executioner's Tower, where the sentence was carried out. There were five towers in total, the tower of chains (women's prison) burned down. Henry's Tower served as a civil prison. Hans von Altheim's Tower and the French Tower served as a military prison.

From the panoramic platform, which is called "Vauban Dam" you can see the Covered Bridges, Petite France and downtown beyond. A dam is a structure (fortification) on the Il River in the form of a system of sluices designed to flood southern lands in case of enemy attack.

Museums and other attractions

The city of Strasbourg is small in size. You can see it Art Museum in the Aubett Palace, which has about 850 valuable paintings by masters dating back to the 14th century (Raphael, El Greco, Flemish masters and others). The first art museum was destroyed during the war in 1870. A new museum was created by Wilhelm von Bode, and Hans Gogh continued the work.

From the cathedral, along one of the streets you can go to the square with a monument to Gutenberg, who created the first printing press.

Located in the city center, there is a statue in honor of General Jean-Baptiste Kleber. Nearby is Iron Man Square.

Republic Square, botanical garden with a pond, a park with enclosures for animals.

Strasbourg History Museum tells about the history of the city; the building dates back to the 16th century.

The European Quarter in the north of the city is designed in a modern architectural style. It houses the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.

We can talk about Strasbourg for a long time, but it’s better to see it for yourself.

Sights of Strasbourg - VIDEO