Visiting Strasbourg, France

Went over to Strasbourg at the weekend. Definitely worth a looksee.

It's 350 easy kms from here. Past Stuttgart, on up to Karlsruhe and then down to Strasbourg. On the way you'll pass turn-offs for Legoland and Western City if you are so inclined.

The cathedral dominates the town centre.



There's some great old buildings in the area of "Petit France" and around the centre.



This following pic is Choucroutte. A large pile of Sauerkraut with six different piggie bits atop it. Had this during an excellent meal at Chez Yvonne.

[img]http://www.keydeck.com/galleries/051030_strasbourg/pict4988.jpg[/img]

Feckin' Scousers get everywhere. Le feckin' Liver'Pool.

[img]http://www.keydeck.com/galleries/051030_strasbourg/pict5023.jpg[/img]

Oh and as Pete McCarthy once said, you should never pass by a pub which has your name on the door.

[img]http://www.keydeck.com/galleries/051030_strasbourg/pict5003.jpg[/img]

It's a nice place to visit for an over-nighter but you don't really need much more. Note, cigarettes are €5 a pack so if you're a smoker come prepared. Also, if you have to buy cigarettes do so during the day from a Tabac as you may have difficulty at night.

The usual touristy stuff applies in that stuff is more expensive around the centre and so forth. Paid €6 for a beer outside the cathedral.

Also, the usual pile of blokes from Senegal abound flogging belts and watches and so forth. I've heard that they may approach you and give you a present of a cool looking lighter for FREE and then ask for a couple of Euro for a cup of coffee. This is a quite cheeky approach but amusing nonetheless. But...that's just what I heard. I'd never be taken in by such underhand techniques.

Shops close at 6 on Saturdays (with a couple of malls open till 7) and like here everything (except touristy crap) is closed on Sunday.

There're a couple of carparks where you can park overnight for about €8. I was in the Hospital Carpark and paid €15. Happy enough with that knowing the car is safe.

A food speciality of the area is Flammkuchen or Tarte Flambe as they call it. Didn't get a chance to sample it but can say from past experience that it's well yummy.

More photos in the gallery.

I would suggest to wait until the Christmas markets are up in Strasbourg, then it's really worth a trip. Also to be recommended is Colmar, 30 mins south by train. Very picture-squee.
I like Alsatian cooking (lived in Mulhouse for a year), so try it if you can. They also try to claim that spätzle is their 'invention'
The European Parliament building was hard to find, and a bit of a trek, but made a pretty picture by the river.

While I worked in Karlsruhe, I toured the area extensively. I also recommend the Vosge Mountains just to the North of Strasbourg. The area around the cities Wissembourg, Bitche, and Lembach to name a few I can recall make for great trips. One can tour remnants of the famed Maginot Line, and a several cool ruins:

http://www.ot-lembach.com/gb/accueil.html

Hey there,
Planning a weekend (Fri-Sun) to Strasbourg and read a few things about what to see and do. Anybody been there?

We're taking the TGV train (only 1:16 minutes from Stuttgart) and a very decent rate of 103 E for two round trip tickets (with bahn card discounts). We're staying at the Holiday Inn for member points only...and taking the tram into the center of town. Tour suggestions? We'd like to see the Cathedral Notre Dame, shop around and maybe take a boat tour (weather permitting). Any suggestions on restaurants? We like Italian food and steaks. (French food has too much dairy that I can't eat, so avoid if possible). Favorite Pubs?

Any place to avoid? Read some hotel reviews that there were some shady areas of town...any experience with that. anyone?

Thanks for your tips.

Topics merged by admin

Depending on when you're going, the Christmas market is really nice there. I suggest just walking around looking at the obvious like the cathedral, the European Parliament (took me ages to find it though hehe, pretty building). There was a really nice painted house somewhere, where 1 side was made to look like an inn, but as I said I just wandered around to get a feel for the place.

Foodwise, since you're in Alsace, I'd suggest Alsatian food, like choucroute or Spätzle or Flammkuchen (edit: this contains dairy products, so avoid!), and try the Crémant d'Alsace, a sparkling white wine similar to Sekt/Prosecco/Champagne. Delicious, and cheap in any supermarket!

Sekt/Prosecco/Champagne. Delicious, and cheap in any supermarket

Hmm, sounds good. We're going end of the month...

MMMmmm. Flammkuchen is good.

Best Flammkuchen I ever had was in 'Glove-city' here

Also in Strasbourg, don't forget to see the 'La Petit France' area by the water.

I can't remember the name of it in local dialect, but in French it's called tarte flambée.

Here's some info on Alsatian cuisine.

Yeah, it depends which part of Alsace you're in...but usually in the 'German' part it's Flammenkuchen. That's what my colleague from Strausbourg says. I just asked him.

When I lived in Mulhouse (about 1 hr south of Strasbourg) they wrote it differently, like Flammekueche. Say hi to your colleague!

Take a boat tour through the canals. Look for "salons de the" instead of eating at the touristy restaurants.

At the Cathedral (which is not Notre Dame btw because that is in Paris) you can go around to the right side from the main doors. You can then pay a couple of Euros to take some small winding steps up to the upper deck of the Cathedral. Great view of the city from up there and you can see grafitti dating back to the 1700s.

As already mentioned the Petite France area is quite nice too for stolling around and a bite to eat.

A nice park is the Orangerie which if I am not mistaken was built by Napolean and given as a gift (to some hot babe I imagine,-).

Also Strassbourg has a few canals similar to Amdsterdam and you can take similar boat tours.

not yet been thr.. but i have heard strassbourg is a beautiful place to hire a bicycle and explore the city.

Actually in French it is Notre Dame (translation: Our Lady) see link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strasbourg_Cathedral
One of these days we'll make it to Paris to see the 'real' Notre Dame. I grew up in the shadow of Notre Dame in the states and always wanted to see the original.

I checked the links you've all submitted...way cool. Thanks. I am getting hungry just reading about those delicious meals. Don't like touristy restaurants either. Give me a local fare anyday

We wanted to go someplace close since it's only for a weekend and found the train the most cost effective way, considering there are no direct highways between Stuttgart and Strasbourg (and we'd have to rent a car anyway).

Keep 'em coming! Thx

Hey somebody merged the topic...spoooky...let me know next time. thx...

Sheer greed was always my problem in Strasbourg as I'd always order Flammküchen AND the onion tart AND a side salad. Unless you have a handy wheelchair to get yourself back to the hotel, be careful not to go bonkers ordering as portions are huge.

As there hasn't been enough mention of local wines, don't miss trying Gerwürztraminer but also other treats such as Tokay Pinot Gris (perfect with rich dishes). Go to the Munsterstuewel (a winstub = Weinstubl = wine pub) or similar to try local wines.
Alsace wines official site

For those not resident in Stuttgart, Hamburg or D'dorf, the fact that Strasbourg has a Habitat branch (open on Sundays too) is another reason to go.

And the trams look like spaceships

You do a search next time!

guilty as charged...jeez. it's friday...take it easy.

Tips:
First Sunday of the month - all museums are free
Trams - 4.80 euros for 24 hr pass for up to 3 people, very easy, needed cash, wouldn't take credit card
12%-19% service charge at most restaurants, tipping not required after that fee
1 hr Boat Tours by Palais Rohan are covered with heating and a/c - weather not an issue. 7.40 E per person with headset provided (english)
City is definately walkable with comfortable shoes, lots of uneven cobblestone streets
Free map at the train station information booth, same map - 1 euro at Tourist Center (located next to Cathedral)
Most shops close around 1pm on Saturday, some open until 7 - expensive
Souvenior shops open on Sunday, stay away from center for same merchandise that's cheaper
Astronomical clock show at 12:30 daily, not a must see (5 min) and free on Sunday after 11am mass
Construction everywhere, Cathedral, plazas, train station.
Petite France our favorite area
Very nice for a weekend visit

On a long drive (Geneva - Hamburg), I stopped off in Strasbourg early one Sunday morning. We climbed the cathedral tower just as it opened (8.00? 9.00?), and as we looked out over the still sleeping town, the bells below us started to ring. The sound of those bells echoing around the town with the other churches joining in was an incredible experience. Highly recommended.