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The guide
Strasbourg, capital of Alsace and seat of the European Parliament, blends French and Germanic influences. The Grande Île, a UNESCO site, is built around the majestic pink-sandstone cathedral, whose spire rises to 142 metres. La Petite France, the former tanners' district, lines its half-timbered houses along the canals of the Ill, dotted with covered bridges. Wander Place Kléber, Place Gutenberg and the cobbled lanes lined with winstubs, the typical inns where you taste choucroute and flammekueche. The more modern European quarter houses the institutions and the Orangerie park. In December, the city becomes the capital of Christmas with its chalets and lights. Strasbourg is easily explored on foot, by bike or by tram, and a cruise on the Ill gives a lovely view of the city.
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Guy Ritchie opened « Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows » (2011) on a spectacular shot of Strasbourg Cathedral, just before an explosion obscures it. Robert Downey Jr. also filmed on Place Kléber and in La Petite France, whose half-timbered houses serve as a backdrop.
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Strasbourg's Christmas market, the Christkindelsmärik, founded in 1570, is the oldest in France. As for the cathedral's astronomical clock, legend has it that the city magistrates had its designer's eyes put out so he could never build another one anywhere else.
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Wait until 12:30 to see the procession of the Apostles on the astronomical clock, not noon, the classic visitor mistake. With a data eSIM, you can book your time slot online in advance and find your way easily through the maze of La Petite France.
Must-see
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Strasbourg Cathedral
A Gothic masterpiece in pink Vosges sandstone, its single spire rises to 142 metres. Inside, the astronomical clock stages its procession of Apostles daily at 12:30. The platform offers views over the city and the Black Forest.
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La Petite France
Strasbourg's most picturesque quarter, the former stronghold of tanners and millers, with its half-timbered houses mirrored in the canals of the Ill. The Covered Bridges and the Vauban Dam are its highlights.
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Place Kléber
The largest square in the centre, bordered by the Aubette and dominated by the statue of General Kléber. In December it hosts the great Christmas tree, emblem of the oldest market in France.
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Parc de l'Orangerie
The city's oldest park, created for Empress Joséphine, with its lake, waterfall and a small free zoo home to storks, the symbol of Alsace. A green haven near the European quarter.
Good to know
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Strasbourg is worth visiting year-round; spring and summer are mild, but December remains magical thanks to France's oldest Christmas market. The CTS tram network, dense and punctual, serves the whole centre and the station, and the pedestrian Grande Île is easily explored on foot or by bike. Bordering Germany, the city is highly accessible. Mobile 4G/5G coverage is excellent across the metropolitan area, and free wifi is widespread in cafés and public spaces. A data eSIM activated on arrival keeps you connected with no roaming fees, also useful for day trips across the Rhine.
