Strasbourg city breaks

Petit France quarter

This district, south west of the city centre, is one of the prettiest and most charming parts of this already remarkably photogenic town. Originally the part of the city lived in by tradesmen, the sloping roofs of the half-timbered buildings conceal large open lofts where 16th and 17th century tanners hung their hides to dry.

The narrow, cobbled streets are bisected by the river and linked by flower-festooned footbridges. It’s all just so pretty, every street is a photo waiting to be taken. Wear your most comfortable shoes though, as you’ll want to walk around for hours

When you are completely exhausted, or you run out of camera battery, there are plenty of bars and restaurants along the river where you can sit and drink in the view over a glass of beer or a local Gewurztraminer.

Strasbourg Notre Dame Cathedral

Strasbourg cathedral is a work of art, heavily decorated with ornate carvings that narrate life in the Middle Ages. Soaring impressively above the roofs of the surrounding houses, the cathedral is the tallest church in France and one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in Europe

The inside doesn’t disappoint either, with magnificent stained glass windows dating back as far as the 12th century, 17th century tapestries, an ornate painted organ and an amazing astronomical clock. The clock performs at solar noon (12:30 in winter) so, if you want to see it in action, be in the cathedral at least half an hour beforehand as they shut the doors when it is full, don’t worry there is plenty to see while you are waiting.

Cave Historique des Hospices de Strasbourg

This is definitely a first – going to hospital for a glass of wine. Strasbourg’s main city hospital was founded in 1395 and, back then, people couldn’t always afford to pay cash for medical treatment so they paid with wine.

All the donations of wine were stored in the hospital’s cellar and, up until the 19th century, every patient was allowed two litres of wine a day.

The cellar is now a wine museum with 40 barrels of very old wine, including one from 1472, said to be the oldest white wine in the world. There are also more recent wines, all from Alsace which can be tasted and bought at the museum. Entry is free and it’s well worth a visit.

Palais Rohan

There is something for everyone in this magnificent Parisian-style mansion, formerly the residence of the Bishop of Strasbourg. The Museum of Archaeology, the Fine Arts Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts are all under the same roof, making it the perfect place to visit if the weather is bad.

The Museum of Decorative Arts is on the ground floor, along with the spectacularly lavish apartments of the Cardinals of Rohan, well worth a visit to see how the other half live. The first floor is taken up by the Museum of Fine Arts with a good collection of Flemish and European art. In the basement you’ll find the Museum of Archaeology with an extensive collection of exhibits from Neolithic to Merovingian.

Boat tours

The centre of town is so compact you can do a boat tour around it in just over an hour. Boats leave from near the Palais Rohan and take you around the Grand Ile, past most of historic Strasbourg, passing through Petite France and going through two river locks in the process.

It also takes you past the modern European district where the European Parliament and other administrative buildings are located.

A boat tour is a great way to get a different view of the city and, if you’re tired from walking around, it gives you a chance to sit back and relax while seeing the town. The tours run less frequently in winter and you can choose between open or covered boats if you feel the cold. In peak season buy your ticket in advance as boats fill up quickly.