Strasbourg - home among strangers

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Strasbourg is a city that the Germans rightly consider French, while the French themselves come here for the German flavor. This paradox can be easily explained: Strasbourg is the capital of Alsace, a territory that has repeatedly passed from one state to another, now becoming part of France, now belonging to Germany. Be that as it may, first of all, Strasbourg is a very beautiful city in which lacy French speech sounds at every step, and restaurants serve beer and stewed cabbage.

Today Strasbourg is the administrative center of the French region of Alsace, a city on the very border with Germany, with a German name and French inhabitants, where the European Parliament meets and the headquarters of the Council of Europe is located. If you decide to travel to Strasbourg in December to capture a bit of the pre-Christmas atmosphere and admire the richly decorated city, there are a lot of things to do and see in the capital of Alsace:

The tower of the cathedral can be climbed by overcoming more than 300 steps.

1. Go to the main square of the cityto admire the majesty of the cathedral. The first stone of the cathedral was laid in the 12th century, and several centuries later, in 1439, when the temple was completed, and until the end of the 19th century, it was considered the tallest building in the world, surpassing even the Egyptian pyramids. You can climb the tower of the cathedral by overcoming more than 300 steps, along which young Goethe once climbed to overcome his fear of heights. Right next to the cathedral, there is another landmark of Strasbourg - the Kammerzel house, the pearl of late German Gothic, the most beautiful half-timbered house in the city, the carved facade of which is richly decorated with frames and sculptures.

2. Get lost in streets of the old townenjoying the architecture, shopping and looking at the Christmas decorations. In recent years, the city has been decorated in European Community blue to highlight its importance to the European Union. Explore the souvenir shops as well and don't be surprised by the abundance of storks. This bird is a symbol of Alsace, and almost every village in the region boasts a stork's nest.

3. Take a walk in the most romantic area of Strasbourg, little France, which is called the local Venice for the abundance of canals. Look at the half-timbered dollhouses, explore the intricate sluice system, wander along the canals, and finally drop by one of the many charming water-view restaurants.

To complete the picture, do not forget to ride the famous Strasbourg tram.

4. It's time to visit the famous covered bridges Strasbourg, connecting the defensive towers of the XIV century. The views of the bridges and towers themselves, as well as of the bridges over the city, are some of the most popular camera angles in the city. It is no coincidence that the postcard square silhouettes of the towers and the perspectives of the observation deck have become an indispensable element of excursions in medieval Strasbourg.

5. After you finish exploring Strasbourg of the Middle Ages, go to area of modern architecture with its glass futuristic buildings admire the city of the future and look into the mirrored surfaces of the houses. To complete the picture, do not forget to ride the famous Strasbourg tram, which looks like a picture from a science fiction movie.

6. Pay tribute the old printer, Johannes Gutenberg, on the eponymous squarewhere his monument stands. Thanks to the fact that Gutenberg invented his typesetting in Strasbourg, the ideas of printing quickly developed in the city, which contributed to its prosperity and growth of welfare.

7. Despite the fact that Strasbourg is a fairly small city, it contains many interesting museums: archaeological, decorative and fine arts, museum of Notre Dame treasures and modern art. So if you want to learn more about the history of the city and enjoy the paintings of German and French masters, or even just pass the time in bad weather, you will have a lot of opportunities for this.

Another dish that is considered the hallmark of Strasbourg is flammkuchen, the French analogue of pizza.

8. Strasbourg is not only culture and architecture, but also gourmet paradise … For a taste of the Alsatian culinary tradition, be sure to try Strasbourg's famous stew, chou-krut, and the unusual local beers. Another dish that is considered the hallmark of Strasbourg is flammkuchen, the French analogue of pizza - an open pie on a thin crust with a variety of fillings.

9. Since the French are known, among other things, for their delicacies, spend the morning in one of the luxury pastry shopsfor authentic French eclairs and small, colorful pasta. And if you feel a gourmet vein in yourself, be sure to visit a large grocery store to gaze at the abundance of cheeses, gourmet seafood and other French delights. There you can also buy some homemade souvenirs, treating them with cheeses or foie gras.

10. Finally, if you happen to be in Strasbourg in December, take the time to get around the famous Christmas markets, for which the city has earned the title of the capital of European Christmas, taste French mulled wine and take funny photos by sticking your face into the slots on cardboard figures scattered throughout the city. And, when you leave, take with you a piece of this city, its French flair, German puppetry and unique Alsatian charm.