A quick trip to the Famous City of Strasbourg

It was a quick half day trip to Strasbourg in France, though by the time you take to travel from Frankfurt it was probably a full day. Taking the train from Frankfurt was an experience very organised on one side but not so much the other. Even with the short amount of time, I managed to pack quite a few things in.

One of the things that makes Strasbourg famous is that it can’t quite decide whether it’s French or German, and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting. Sitting right on the border of the two countries, it has spent centuries passing back and forth between them, and the result is a place with its own distinct character. This character is reflected in the buildings you see.

Places of Interest in Strasbourg

Strasbourg-Ville Station

Right from the arrival at Strasbourg-Ville station you get a sense of what might lay ahead. The train station is a historical building dating from 1878 which was built in a Neo-Renaissance Style. The building was refurbished in 2006-2007 with a glass cocoon that covers the historical facade.

 

 

 

Pont de l’Abattoir and Commanderie Saint Jean

From the station I headed down Rue de Maire Kuss towards Canal du Faux Rempart  and on to Pont de l’Abattoir which is approximately an 8 minute walk.

The Pont de l’Abattoir is an interesting spot before you even know its history. It is the only bridge in central Strasbourg that incorporates a dam, a lock, and a fish ladder all in one structure. Standing on it, looking out over the canal du Faux-Rempart, with the sound of the water below it makes for an idyllic contrast to its previous life.

The name (Bridge of the Slaughterhouse) comes from what was once nearby, but the bridge’s original purpose was to connect the city to the Commanderie Saint Jean, (seen on the right of the image) a complex of medieval buildings just across the water. The Commanderie has had a remarkably varied life. It started as a chapel, was taken over by the Knights Hospitaller who built it into a hospital in the 1520s, then became a prison in the 1740s and stayed that way until 1988. Yes, 1988. It now houses a campus of France’s prestigious civil service school, which feels like a more fitting ending for buildings that old.

Petite France and the Ponts Couverts

The Petite France quarter is one of those places that genuinely lives up to the photos. Half-timbered houses lean out over the canals, flowers hang from window boxes, and the whole area has a kind of storybook quality that somehow doesn’t feel overdone. It is undeniably beautiful, and you understand immediately why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Ponts Couverts (Covered Bridges) sit at the edge of Petite France, and the name is a small piece of historical irony. There are no longer any roof covering them. The bridges once had a timber roof for defensive purposes, but those disappeared long ago. What remains are three medieval stone towers connected by bridges over the River Ill, which are striking enough without needing a roof to justify the name.

 

Barrage Vauban

Just beyond the Ponts Couverts sits the Barrage Vauban, a weir built in the late 17th century by the military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. The logic behind it was very much of its era: by flooding the surrounding land, the city could be made difficult for approaching armies to cross. It never actually had to be used for this purpose, but it has remained in place ever since.

What makes it worth visiting now is the rooftop terrace, which offers one of the best views in the city. From up there you can see straight back over the Ponts Couverts and across the Petite France rooftops, with the cathedral spire visible in the distance.

 

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg is impossible to miss. Built in a deep pink-orange Vosges sandstone, it dominates the old town completely. Construction started in the 11th century and continued for several hundred years, with the famous single north tower finished in 1439. For more than two hundred years, from 1647 to 1874, it held the record as the tallest building in the world.

The interior is extraordinary, and the astronomical clock on the south aisle is one of the great mechanical curiosities of medieval Europe. Built in the 16th century, it still functions today, tracking solar time, the movement of planets, and a calendar of saints.

Narrow streets, Restaurants and Historical buildings.

The plan was to take a walking tour around the area however it started to rain and didn’t let up. Fortunately I had seen a few other things in the area before hand. Lots of pedestrian zones which are narrow streets often with restaurants with tables on the sidewalk.

Maison Kammerzell

On the Place de la Cathédrale, right next to the cathedral itself, stands the Maison Kammerzell. The ground floor dates from 1467 and the elaborately decorated upper floors from 1589, and together they make one of the most ornate half-timbered buildings in Alsace. Every panel of the facade seems to have been carved with figures, foliage, or geometric patterns. It is the kind of building where you keep stepping back to look and finding more detail.

It is now a restaurant, which means if you want a proper look at the interior you either need to book a table or be very convincing about needing to use the bathroom. The exterior alone is worth the stop.

|Related: Travel Europe

Rue du Maroquin

A pedestrian zone near the Cathedral named after the many shoemakers that used to be in the area.

 

Place des Tripiers

Place des Tripiers is a picturesque spot to relax. Named for the meat traders who operated in the middle ages. A large wooden wine barrel sits in the quare which is a tribute to the regions vineyards. The square was created in 1957 as the original houses were destroyed in World War II. A flea market is held twice a week here and other spots nearby.

Video Highlights

Final Thoughts on Strasbourg

Though time was short it was certainly worth the visiting Strasbourg. Hopefully I’ll get back there to spend more time. If you have any favourite spots let me know.

Happy traveling, Jenny – follow me on Insta or Youtube