STRASBOURG Economic Travel Guide
The least French city in France’ A weekend in..
Strasbourg is located within the borders of France, in the Alsace region called Region Alsace. gets. This city, which changed hands countless times between Germany and France,. After World War II, it is included within the borders of France, but it is known as “the least French city in France”.. German and French influences are clearly seen in the city, so that even in spoken French, a German accent is felt.
In this city, which has the title of European Capital, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Parliament. In this city, which also pioneered the European Reform movements, Gutenberg invented the printing press.. Erasmus, who laid the foundation of the “Student Exchange Program” known as Erasmus, lived here. The famous German writer Goethe spent his student years here. The national anthem of France was composed here in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle.
known as the stork, the symbol of the Alsace region. It is possible to see many large and small stork figures during your trip in the city.. The reason for this is 20. Many storks lived here at the beginning of the 19th century.. To see the main habitats of storks, we recommend going to Parc des Cigognes et des Loutres in the “Hunawihr” region.
Strasbourg is also known as the “City of Lights” (Ville de Lumiere). as well as the title of “Capital of Christmas” (Capitale de Noel). This charming city, which makes you feel like you are in an open-air museum with its Gothic and Renaissance style architecture, was included in the “World Cultural Heritage List” by UNESCO in 1988 and was taken under protection.
The historical center of the city, surrounded by “vineyards”, was built on an island on the III River. Most of the must-see places in Strasbourg are located on this island called Grande-Île de Strasbourg and are within walking distance of each other. Petite France, Cathédrale Notre Dame, Place Gutenberg, Place Kléber and many other places that we will mention in the itinerary below are on this island.
HOW TO GET TO STRASBOURG: HOW TO GET TO STRASBOURG?
By plane: Germany as of Strasbourg location, It is a city that you can easily reach from France and even Switzerland.
Strasbourg International Airport (SXB) is located in Entzheim, located in the southwest of the city.. In particular, Air France operates several flights between Paris and Strasbourg every day.. Trains from the airport to the city center cost around 4 euros.
Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport (EAP) airport is 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Strasbourg by train. Flights organized by cheap airline companies such as Easy Jet and Pegasus are in the majority.. Although Basel Airport is not well known, it is also an airport where flights should definitely be checked due to its location importance.
Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB) is located within the borders of Germany, 60 km away. From here, you can come to the main railway station called Baden-Baden Hauptbahnhof and get on the Strasbourg trains.. Ryanair flights are also organized from London to this airport, where the number of flights of THY from Istanbul Atatürk Airport has also increased.. Direct shuttle services are also available from Karlshure Airport to Strasbourg.
In addition, after getting off to Stuttgart Airport and Frankfurt International Airport from Germany, you can take train or shuttle buses to Strasbourg. It is also possible to reach
By train: After Paris, the largest train station in France is here.. With both SNCF and DB trains, you can have a comfortable and enjoyable journey from any city in these two countries to Strasbourg.. By train, you will be here 2.5 hours from Paris, 2 hours and 15 minutes from Luxembourg, 2 hours from Frankfurt, 1 hour and 20 minutes from Stuttgart.
By car: You can reach Strasbourg by road, using the A4 motorways from the west, Switzerland and Lyon, the A35 from the south, and the A5 motorways from Germany, the north and east.. It will be really easy to get here when you rent a car with navigation.. Aclick here to read our blog post on this subject before renting a car in Europes sir.
By bus: Our recommendation for those traveling to Strasbourg by bus is of course Euro Lines.
STRASBOURG URBAN TRANSPORT
As Strasbourg is such a small settlement, everyone usually walks or cycles. There is no metro in the city, but there are bus lines and trams numbered from A to F, which are managed by the company Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS).. You can buy your ticket from cigarette and ticket kiosks called “tabac”, tourist offices, CTS offices and automatic ticket vending machines on the platforms.. You should not forget to validate your ticket at the automatic machines at the platforms/stations before boarding the transportation vehicles in Strasbourg, as in the rest of Europe.
STRASBOURG ACCOMMODATION : WHERE TO STAY IN STRASBOURG?
Place de la Gare and Rue du Maire Kuss regions are the regions with the most accommodation alternatives. The occupancy rates of the hotels in Strasbourg increase one or two days of each month when EU parliamentary meetings take place, during the Christmas Market periods and of course on weekends.. For this reason, we recommend that you reserve your place on booking.com or airbnb websites before your trip.
THINGS TO DO IN STRASBOURG
Christmas Market: The most popular Christmas Market in Europe is set up in Strasbourg. You must come to Strasbourg any time from the end of November to Christmas Day, 24 December. Of course, like all European cities, this place gets a dead city silence on December 25, because we recommend that you pay attention to this when making your plans.
Rent a bike: Bicycle, Apart from walking, it is the best vehicle to discover Strasbourg. You should enjoy the narrow and cute streets of the city by renting bicycles, which are the most used means of transportation by those living in this city anyway.
Picnic: Parc de l’Orangerie (Orangerie Park), Parc de la Citadelle (Citadelle Park) and the Jardin botanique de l’Université de Strasbourg (Botanical Garden) are areas where you can stretch your feet and have a picnic.. Orangerie Park; Designed by Le Notre, the architect of the garden of the Castle of Versailles. There is a small chateau, a miniature farm and zoo, a waterfall, a lake where you can take a boat trip, the “Pavillion Josephine” section where exhibitions and events are organized, and the Buerehiesel serving as a restaurant.. Citadelle Park is located on Rue de Boston. Picnic tables and playgrounds for children are available. Strasbourg University Botanical Garden was founded in 1619 and is a park area located in the center of the city.. There are more than 6000 plant species on this 3.5-acre land.
Canal tour: You should take a canal tour on the river in boats surrounded by glass windows. You can get on these boats called Batorama from the pier, which you will reach by making first left and then right at the end of the small square that comes across when you walk down Rue du Maroquin street opposite Kammerzell House.. You have to pay 12.5 euros per person for this journey, which takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, but we think it is an excellent alternative to see almost the entire city through the canals of the river.. So you will definitely make a tour worth this price.
WHAT TO EAT IN STRASBOURG WHAT TO DRINK?
The German and French atmosphere in Strasbourg is also reflected in the food culture.. You will find many alternatives from both French and German cuisine in the menus of all restaurants.. Besides bakery products, potatoes, meat, sausages, you can choose local beer and wine.. It is also possible to find Turkish restaurants (rather kebab shops) in the city.
Tarte Flambe: You should taste the tart flambe, also called lahmacun from the Alsace region.
Cookies: Visit Galerie Gourmande, the famous French and Belgian shortbread cookie, located at Place Klebere. You will be amazed by both this fabulous shop and the beautiful cookies on offer.
Beer: The Alsace region is where beer was first produced in France. The most popular beers are Kronenbourg and Fischer.. There are many beer houses, pubs and bars in the city where you can sit and enjoy your beer.
Wine: If you like wine, you are in the right place.. France is already a country famous for its wines, and Alsace wines, which have 7 varieties, are usually named according to the names of the villages and vineyards they come from, and the wines produced are put in traditional thin Alsace bottles.. “Muscats” is a light wine type with aromatic and fresh grape flavor, “Pinot Noir” is a red and rosé type with cherry flavor, “Gewurztraminer” is the best known Alsace with rich aroma blended with fruit, flower and spice.
Choucroute: A meal served in a rather large portion with 5 kinds of bratwurst, pork, boiled potatoes and cabbage. Maybe you want to taste it by ordering with a large group.. Choucroute’s main ingredient is the cabbage called Sauerkraut.
Baeckehoffe: Stewed meat and potatoes. It is not a very interesting taste, but you can still choose it as a typical food of this city.
Fleischnackas: This typical dish of the Alsaz region; It is a kind of cooked meat stuffed with eggs, onions, parsley, salt and pepper, rolled with long, fresh pasta, cut into slices and usually served with green salad.
And of course Bretzel
SHOPPING IN STRASBOURG
Galeries Lafayette Store, Place des Halles whatever you want from famous shopping malls You can find all kinds of clothing, clothing, goods, accessories, etc.
You can stop by the flea market (marché aux Puces) on Rue de Vieil-Hôpital on Wednesdays and Saturdays to buy second-hand and antique pieces.
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There are supermarket chains such as COOPAlsace, PointCOOP and NORMA where you can shop cheaply, such as BİM and A101.. You can have a picnic by buying beer and wine from these places, and even take a bottle or two and put them in your suitcase.
For souvenirs, you should prefer the Cathedral square and the small streets that lead to the square.
STRASBOURG CITY TOUR
Strasbourg is such a small city that you can walk from beginning to end in 15 minutes, but it is so cute and striking that you cannot understand how time passes while walking.. A city full of architecture of buildings, green spaces, historical buildings, church, university, theatre, canals, squares and EU buildings.. Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful European cities to visit for the weekend.. In 2 days, you will have enough time to see everything, taste the food and experience the nightlife.. Especially during the Christmas market, every street is decorated with chirping and flocked by both local and foreign tourists, this city is worth seeing with both morning and evening lighting..
We have prepared this 2-3 hour walking route for you.
The places you will see in Strasbourg, respectively; Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg (Notre Dame Cathedral), Pharmacie du Cerf, Maison Kammerzell (Kammerzell House), Musee des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), Musee des Arts Decoratifs (Museum of Decorative Arts), Musee Archeologique (Archaeology Museum), Le Palais Rohan (Rohan Palace), Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame, Musée Historique de Ville de Strasbourg (City Museum), Place Gutenberg, Place Kleber (Kleber Square), La Petite France (Little France), Barrage Vauban (Vauban) Dam), Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain (Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), Place de la Republique, Parlement Européen (European Parliament), Cour Européenne des Droits de l’Homme (European Court of Human Rights), Délégation de l’ Union Européenne auprès du Conseil de l’Europe (council of Europe) and parks.
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg (Notre Dame Cathedral): This cathedral, known as the most beautiful gothic cathedral in Europe, is open every day and its entrance is free. This structure, which is the sixth highest church in the world, reaches a height of 142 meters.. When you climb the 329-step stairs, you will reach the point where you will see a magnificent city view.
To the south of the cathedral, one of the largest clocks in the world, 18 meters tall, dating from the 19th century, “astronomy”
The clock, mechanical figures appear every day at 12:30. Also, the “Pilier des Anges”, called the Angel column, located right next to the clock, is one of the must-see structures in Strasbourg.
Pharmacie du Cerf: In the Place de la Cathetrale area This pharmacy is older than the cathedral and is known as the oldest pharmacy in France.
Maison Kammerzell (Kammerzell House): It is from the end of the Middle Ages and is the best preserved in the city. Today, this building serves as a restaurant.
Le Palais Rohan (Rohan Palace): It is in the old town square. 18th century residence used as residence for princes and cardinals. In the city, it is one of the most important buildings of the Alsace region.. The building has been under protection as a historical monument by the “French Ministry of Culture” since 1920. Musee Archeologique (Archaeological Museum), Musee des Arts Decoratifs (Museum of Decorative Arts) and Musee des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) are here.
Musée de l’ Œuvre Notre-Dame: In this museum, where the medieval and Renaissance period treasures of the city are exhibited, the early stained glass windows, the cathedral’s sculptures and the medieval Alsace painting collection attract attention.
Musée Historique de Ville de Strasbourg (City Museum): In this museum, where you will get information about the daily life as well as the history of this city, there are local clothes, discussions, documents and objects from that period.
La Place Gutenberg (Gutenberg Square): Gutenber, who was born in Mainz, a German city in 1440, moved to Strasbourg due to the political upheavals in the city and invented the printing press here.. The first edition of the Bible was for a part of the Bible, and the 42-line Bible page he printed with the technique he developed is exhibited in the middle of this square.
Place Kleber (Kleber Square): This is the most beautiful place in the city. The most important feature of the famous square is the magnificent lighting made for Christmas every year from the end of November.. The famous Galeries La Fayatte, with its monument to Jean-Baptiste Kleber, after whom the square is named, is located here.
La Petite France (Little France): In 1988, UNESCO named it “World This “little France” region, which has been included in the Cultural Heritage List and under protection, offers a charming appearance with its colorful, wooden houses lined along the canals of the Rhine (L’ill: English the Ill).. This is also the old tannery quarter of the city.. You can enjoy the most magnificent view of this region from the Barrage Vauban (Vauban Dam) and walk along the Rue des Moulins to visit the most beautiful places of La Petite France.
Ponts Couverts: La The bridge with the towers seen in almost all Strasbourg photographs taken in the Petite France region. 13. Three prism-shaped towers are here, which are examples of 19th century architecture.
Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain- MAMCS (Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arts): The building where the museum is located, With its architectural appearance, it attracted a lot of attention during the city’s being a “European Cultural Center”.. In the collections of the museum: The greatest innovative works of the 20th century are exhibited.
Place De la Requblique (Republic Square): In the east; Palais du Rhin (former Imperial Palace), south; Municipal Opera, Place Broglie and Hotel de Ville to its west; Strasbourg National Theater and Strasbourg National University Library, north; There is the Ministry of Alsace-Lorraine.
Parlement Européen (European Parliament): In accordance with the decision taken at the Scotland-Edinburgh summit in 1992, the European Parliament continues its activities in Strasbourg. Parliament: includes commissions and cabinets involved in the drafting and work of community laws. Members of the Parliament meet once a month in the new Assembly building.
Cour Européenne des Droits de l’Homme (European Court of Human Rights): This is usually the “Informal Strasbourg” referred to as the “court. Here, human rights complaints of member states are evaluated.. In general terms, the duties are specified in the provisions of the “Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms” ratified in 1953.
Délégation de l’Union Européenne auprès du Conseil de l’Europe (Council of Europe): Consists of representatives of all democratic countries in the continent of Europe.
After all this walking tour, three beautiful parks in the city (Parc de l’Orangerie -Orangerie Park, You can relax in one of the Parc de la Citadelle– Citadelle Park or the Jardin botanique de l’Université de Strasbourg– Botanical Garden), or you can have a picnic to relieve your tiredness.
ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE IN STRASBOURG
Strasbourg, like all other student-populated cities, is a fun city with a vibrant nightlife.. When you take into account that there are many pubs, bars and beer houses here due to the beer and wine culture, it is clear that it is a place where you can have a lot of fun and find many alternative venues.
STRASBOURG OTHER PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY: ALTERNATIVE TOURS
- Strasbourg, about 200 km. If you visit this city in June or October, you should take a wine tour before or after the vintage, and visit beautiful towns and cities as well as taste unique wines.. Other places you should see on your Alsace Wine Tour are Haut Koenisbourg Castle, Riquewihr, Colmar, Eguisheim, Mulhouse and Basel.
- If you’re staying in Strasbourg for more than 2 days, Metz and Nancy are two French cities that are definitely worth a visit.
- More than 3 days in Strasbourg If you are going to stay, you should definitely cross the German border and see the big German city of Stuttgart.
STRASBOURG TRAVEL NOTES
Strasbourg would be a great option for a long weekend break. We recommend taking a wine tour from this lovely French & German mixed city or traveling to other nearby cities.
Take/take lots of photos and enjoy this city by walking aimlessly.
RESOURCES
- Wikitravel
- Strasbourg.info