Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is one of the great historic cities of Europe, and its history is very different from that of Paris. For visitors wanting to see Paris and one other French city - or indeed just one French city other than Paris, Strasbourg is the place. Strasbourg is the second most popular tourist city in France, after Paris; and there are three main attractions.

Firstly the cathedral, the second most visited French cathedral after Notre Dame de Paris; secondly the picture-book historic quarter of Petite France, with its half-timbered medieval houses and its quays overlooking branches of the river Ill (that is the river " ill "); and thirdly the Strasbourg Christmas market.

The Christmas market, or Christkindelsmärik, the market of the child Jesus, is the oldest and biggest historic Christmas market in Europe, and fills the squares and old streets round the cathedral for the whole of December. Probably the most photogenic neighborhood in the city, the area known as "La Petite France" has a fairy-tale-like charm about it. Meandering riverside paths, half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, and balconies overflowing with brightly-hued flowers all contribute to the appeal. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site within the old city, the area was once bustling with commercial activity, serving as a major hub for fishermen, tanners, and millers.

Today, it's lined with restaurants, cafés, and quaint inns, and in the warmer months, it's a favorite spot for dusky before-dinner drinks or dinner with riverside views. No doubt you will want to start your visit with the most famous monument of the city, the one you can see on all the postcards: the famous Notre-Dame de Strasbourg cathedral. It’s the symbol of the city and the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world. Entry is free of charge.