Strasbourg

Background

Strasbourg lies on the west bank of the Rhine in the Bas-Rhin department of France, and its old town stands on the Grande Île, encircled by the main channel of the Ill and a canal. At the centre of the island is Place Kléber, the city's main square; to the south rises the sandstone Gothic cathedral, famous for its astronomical clock; and at the western end, Petite France, once home to tanners, millers and fishermen, lines the river with black-and-white half-timbered houses. The medieval Ponts Couverts (no longer covered) and the Palais Rohan, now home to three museums, are also on the island. The Grande Île was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988, and the listing was extended to the Neustadt in 2017. The city grew from the Roman camp of Argentoratum, first recorded in 12 BC, and became a free imperial city in 1262. It became French in 1681, then was German again from 1871 to 1918 and during the Second World War, changing hands between French and German cultures several times. Today it is the seat of the European Parliament and of the Council of Europe with its European Court of Human Rights, and is regarded as one of the three de facto capitals of the European Union.

Local customs

• Climb to the cathedral's viewing platform for a view over the old town
• take a boat trip around the Grande Île on the Ill
• in the evening, stroll along the water in Petite France and watch the half-timbered houses reflected in the river.

Travel tips

• The old town suits walking and cycling, and flat shoes are recommended on the stone streets. During the Christmas market the crowds are enormous, so book accommodation early. Admission to sights is subject to the official information. Take a train to Strasbourg station
• TGV high-speed trains run directly from Paris. Trams serve the old town and the European quarter
• timetables are subject to the official information.
• Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant. Summer is liveliest along the canals. The Christmas market, from late November through December, is the city's highlight of the year, but it is crowded and cold.