Story
Strasbourg: The crossroads of Europe
Strasbourg blends French charm with German architecture at the crossroads of Europe — far quieter than Paris.
Introduction
When people plan to visit a city in France, they might think of: Paris, Marseile, Nice, or Bordeaux. But Strasbourg deserves a spot on that list. One of the capitals of Europe, Strasbourg lies at the crossroads of Europe, in the historic region of Alsace. It is situated in the Rhine valley, right next to the German border, on the banks of the Ill river.
What to do
The old town, situated on the Grande Île should be your starting point. It is almost entirely pedestrian and is incredibly unique for a French city, due to its history of strong German influence. Architecturally speaking, the old town can be mistaken with a city from Southern Germany.
Strasbourg is famous for the Cathedral of Our Lady, easily recognizable with its unfinished second spire. It is one of the finest examples of gothic catherdrals in the world. The first sight of the cathedral as you take a sudden turn on one of the narrow cobbled steets in the old town is breath-taking. If you are like us, you will spend hours trying to get that perfect shot of its impressive facade.
As you walk around the Old town, you will discover small cobbled streets packed with half-timbered houses. One particularly beautiful area is Petite France, around the canals of the Ill river.
Strasbourg is also a modern city. Home of EU Parliament and other institutions like the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe (not to be confused with the European Council). All of these are found in the European Quarter, a bit to the North of the old town.
All in all, Strasbourg is a wonderful destination for a city break, combining the French charm with the old German architecture. We spent 2 days there during our Interrail tour of Europe back in 2013 and we would love to get back some time in the near future.
