Strasbourg, the home of the famous Christmas markets! But also home of a number of other wonderful beautiful things…
Strasbourg: is part of the Alsace region, it is on the east of France. It borders Germany. It has a rich history of culture, people, food, languages and has its very own unique personality. It also seats the EU parliament, something which I learnt on the river cruise as we went past some gorgeous architectural buildings.
Accommodation: Accommodation is fairly expensive around Strasbourg and trying to find the right location is always a bit tricky! But this trip the AirBNB choice was this cute but quaint studio apartment directly behind Strasbourg Cathedral. Location was key and being able to walk everywhere was the ideal. Only down fall, as most of Strasbourg is quite old, most building do not have lifts – so muscle power is required for luggage… Luckily I had found some!
Transport: From Paris CDG to Strasbourg – there is a direct high speed train. Being a non EU citizen, I was able to purchase a Eurorail Pass, highly recommend this to everyone. Only downfall was not being able to redeem the Eurorail Pass online, I had to scoot my way downstairs of CDG airport and hope, fingers cross to get on the train. I did, but it was standing only …. for a 2+ hour train ride. Not too bad as most people tend to not take the whole route, and you can hop on a seat about an hour or so into the journey.
Food: You will need to scroll to the bottom to check out the must eat’s and I’ll link you back you into the reviews from certain restaurants
Temperature: Well it is Winter after all, it is freaking cold (but I’m ozzie)!!! But at least is was still in the + side of of the the thermometer. A few layers and some boots kinda did the trick… but not sure why walking around in leather boots my toes were still frozen. And it’s also a bit gloomy… lots of grey… lots of clouds… no snow though. But hey it is X’mas and the lights are awesome, something to look out for.
Christmas Markets
♥, but you need time and you need lots of walking and lots of vin chaud!
Read all about it here…
City by Foot
It’s so picturesque! Every little alleyway, cobble-stoned paths and corner turns into a picture perfect moment and with awesome Grande Île running through… every picture is a different from the last. Maybe growing up in a country with not that much architectural history, Strasbourg is snap happy for me! And the colours of the buildings….
Strasbourg Cathedral
Super super famous and features in plenty of postcards, the Strasbourg Cathedral is one the oldest and tallest with its tower at 142m. The exterior is as gorgeous as the interior. Checking out the stain glass windows at different times of the day leaves different impressions on one’s memories of the cathedral. (I am not a religious person so apologies if I get the naming of some of the items wrong on the pics!)
The Cathedral is free to enter. But make sure you take the midday tour to check the very famous Astronomical Clock (it’s a bit of a mouthful, if you saw it a few times quickly!) with all its history. It’s only a few euros and it’s definitely worth every penny. Starts around around noon and they run through all the history of the clock, the different movements and all the thought that went around building this clock, the chickens, the stars, the sun, the moon, the seasons, astrology and astronomy and everything else you imagine!
River Cruise
Cruising the Grande Ile is a nice tour hour ride. It takes you in the tole town, Petit’France as well as a nice historical route through the less touristy side of Strasbourg. Past the University areas and then into the EU Parliament side.
It’s nice and scenic, its a glass boat so you get full visibility on either side of the boat and you get an audio that plays in multi languages and they’ve even got kids versions in multi languages. Plus the boat is a nice getaway to the cold outside.
Petit France
History tells… Petit France is the quarantine and hospice are for syphillis. But it is super quaint and picturesque!
There is the lock.. the luck.. the loche? The loch at the entrance of Petit France. It’s pretty neatt to check out what they do when the water levels change and they meet as well as the strength of the current. Taking the river cruise, you sit in the lock, taking a walk to Petit France you get to check it all in action.
The building are very beautiful… as my French mate said to me “You think everywhere is beautiful, you could be locked up in jail at XXXXX and you would still think it’s beautiful” hahahaha.. not quite.. but France is absolutely stunning, have always loved France and in particular Strasbourg is picture perfect no matter where you go! Petit France has so many traditional houses… many of which are centuries old!
Petit France is dotted with loads of awesome little shops and little alleyways and a few art exhibitions in and outdoors as well as more markets and the very long very commercial shopping street – supermarkets, chained outlets, cute bars and amazing restaurants.
Food
So many places, so many restaurants. But there is definitely a few things to tick off the list whilst in Strasbourg:
- Wine – the wine from the Alsace Region is amazing. Alsace is most famous for whites. Got to try a few and they were nice and light, sweeter but crisp. The reds also do very well as well!
- Choucroute – I am a shocker at spelling this and my French accent is completely off. It’s basically the French version of Sauerkraut. The most visit spot which is iconic for this dish in Strasbourg is Kammerzell House. Lunch I am pretty sure is served in the Léo Schnug Room downstaris. Kammerzell House is the most famous house in Strasbourg and it has an amazing exterior and interior – all very medieval! It’s really really really really really NEEEAAAATTT!!! And go have chhhoouuucccrrroouuttee for lunch! It fills you up and its HUGGGGEEE, and that’s something coming from the gal that is always eating!
- Galettes – super thin pizzas with an array of savoury and sweet topping options. Amazing for snacking, meals and with your favourite beverage. So in oz, galettes are really crepes.. So this is kinda nice.. a thin pizza!
- Nougat – there is a famous fresh nougat shop in town….
- Frommage and Chacaturie – so around the corner from the amazing nougat place is a Frommagerie and a Salummmmiii maker!!!! OMG I am in heaven.. I really need to find the names of these places!
- Madeleines from Au Fond du Jardin – they are gour-met and OTT and oh so so so very delicate with decorations. This shop actually was sitting under the AirBnB. It would be my 3rd attempt to go down that there was no queue, the selection is priceless and looks ever so dainty and precious. And they don’t come cheap… €6 to €8 to more, depending how extravagant you want to go! You can book in advance for high tea here or else get some madeleines to go! But not sure if I am all that convinced that the Madeleines are the bomb – have had better ones before, and that is including the plain madeleine comparison.
Til next time Strasbourg!
So seeing Strasbourg in Summer would be completely different… anyone in for a summer trip to explore the beauty all again?