Where to go in Strasbourg. Strasbourg: attractions and interesting places (with photos). Photos of some sights of Strasbourg

The French city with a typical German name, Strasbourg, has long remained a bone of contention between the two neighboring states. But now it has long become the unofficial capital of a united Europe and the focal point of the administrative power of the European Union. In addition, Strasbourg is the intellectual center of France and is home to the prestigious University of Strasbourg.

The main city of the Alsace region boasts a long and eventful history. In the old quarters, temples built in the 12th century still stand, and the squares are decorated with picturesque half-timbered houses. Strasbourg has many interesting museums, beautiful parks and historical monuments, so the excursion program promises to be bright and interesting.

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What to see and where to go in Strasbourg?

The most interesting and Beautiful places for walks. Photos and short description.

1. "Little France"

A romantic and picturesque quarter, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Back in the 16th century, fishermen and leather craftsmen settled here, which is why an unpleasant smell took root in the streets. Nowadays, Petite France has become an elegant historical district with half-timbered houses, flower-filled balconies, quiet alleys and covered bridges over the Ile River.

2. Kleber Square

The square is located in the historical center of Strasbourg, where official ceremonies, public events and various celebrations are held. In the middle there is a monument in honor of a native of Strasbourg - General Kleber. The sculpture was created by F. Grasse in the middle of the 19th century. The square is surrounded by picturesque historical mansions, which house administrative buildings, restaurants and shops.

3. Gutenberg Square

The place is named after I. Gutenberg, the world famous inventor of the printing press. Thanks to this ingenious invention, Strasbourg acquired all-European fame and for 200 years turned into cultural capital region. The square is decorated with a monument to the master, which was erected in 1840. Interestingly, no images of Gutenberg have survived, so the sculptor simply invented his appearance.

4. Strasbourg Cathedral

The cathedral, the construction of which began in the 11th century. Previously, there was a Roman sanctuary on the site of the temple. Over the long centuries of history, several styles have been mixed in the architecture of the cathedral - from early Romanesque to late Gothic. One of the main decorations of the cathedral is the astronomical clock of the 14th century. The chronometer dial displays the location and orbits of the planets in a way that was understood in centuries past.

5. Church of St. Thomas

The largest Lutheran church in Strasbourg, built on the site of an early Christian chapel from the 6th century. Until the 16th century, the Church of St. Thomas belonged to a Catholic parish, but thanks to the efforts of the local priest M. Buser, the temple became Protestant. The façade of the building is made in a harsh Romanesque style with Gothic elements, but the interiors are luxurious and varied.

6. Church of St. Peter the Young

The temple of the 11th century, which, like the Church of St. Thomas, was taken over by the Protestant Church in the 16th century. However, the Lutherans still left a small asp inside the building for the Catholics and separated from them with a wall. Thus, until the 19th century, services of different branches of the church were held under one roof, until the Catholic community became too crowded and moved to its own building. The interior of the Church of St. Peter the Young is decorated with original frescoes XIV century.

7. St. Paul's Church

A neo-Gothic building located in the central part of Strasbourg. The temple was built in late XIX century according to the project of L. Muller. During the Second World War, the building was quite badly damaged by bombing; restoration work began only in the 2000s. The temple belongs to the Protestant community; it was originally built for a German military garrison.

8. Kammerzell House

An architectural monument of the 15th century, built in the half-timbered style, and later remodeled in the late Gothic and Renaissance style. The facade has 75 windows with figured frames, which depict scenes from the Bible, mythological characters, signs of the Zodiac and images of human feelings. The Kammerzell House is one of the most picturesque representatives of late German Gothic.

9. Rogan Palace

An 18th-century palace, erected on the site of the old residence of the archbishops by the will of Cardinal A. M. de Rohan-Soubise, who was the bishop of Strasbourg. The architect J. Massol worked on the building project. Rogan was often visited by people of royal blood; Louis IV, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon Bonaparte visited here. Today, the palace grounds house the Archaeological Museum, the Museum visual arts and the city Museum of Applied Arts.

10. Strasbourg Historical Museum

The museum exhibition is located in a picturesque building of the 16th century, which served as a slaughterhouse for three centuries. In 1920, the mansion was given over to a museum by order of the city authorities. Among the valuable exhibits are ancient books, as well as the very Bible made by I. Guttenberg on the first printing press. Of no less interest is the collection of ancient weapons, household utensils and interior decoration.

11. Notre Dame Museum

Museum founded with funds from the Virgin Mary Foundation. This society was created in the middle of the 13th century. Its members have done a lot to preserve the historical heritage of Strasbourg. The Notre Dame Museum exhibits paintings, sculptures, and stained glass windows that once adorned the Strasbourg Cathedral. Here you can admire the works of I. Striegel, S. Stoskopf, G. Baldung and other Upper Rhine masters working in the period before 1681.

12. Alsace Museum in Strasbourg

Ethnographic exhibition dedicated to culture, crafts and life historical region Alsace. On the territory of the museum open air There are ancient houses in which the interior of the 18th century has been recreated. XIX centuries. With the help of passionate enthusiasts, it was possible to collect dishes, interior items, furniture, toys, and clothes of people who lived in Alsace 100 - 200 years ago. Exhibits were searched for in remote villages literally in closets and attics.

13. Strasbourg Museum of Modern Art

It's hard to imagine a tourist European city without its own museum of contemporary art. The Strasbourg gallery began in the 70s. XX century. For a couple of decades, works of art were purchased for the museum. Finally, the exhibition was opened; in 1998, the Museum Administration managed to collect an excellent collection of contemporary art objects created in the late 19th – early 21st centuries.

14. Children's Science Center "Le Vaisseau"

An interactive entertaining museum where the achievements of modern science are presented to children in an easy and interesting way. The territory is divided into thematic rooms: animal world, secrets of sound and image, human body, water, gardens, construction. The place will also be interesting for adults, since the museum has a lot of educational information presented in a relaxed, but at the same time memorable, form.

15. Botanical Garden

A city park located on a relatively small area of 3.5 hectares. Despite the small area, several thousand plants can be placed here. The park was founded in the 17th century on the site of a monastery churchyard for the needs of the University of Strasbourg. According to established tradition, this place continues to be popular among students. On the territory of the garden there is a planetarium building.

16. Vauban Dam

The dam was built in the period 1686-1700. in order to contain the Il River. Engineer S. Vauban worked on the design project. It was assumed that in the event of an enemy attack it would be possible to flood southern part Strasbourg. The dam is designed in the form of a covered bridge. WITH panoramic platform, equipped as a result of numerous reconstructions, offers excellent views of the city.

17. Covered bridges

An architectural ensemble of the 13th century, which once served as part of the defensive fortifications of Strasbourg. It consists of four massive square towers and bridges. Each tower was used for specific tasks (mainly on their territory in different time prisons and torture chambers were located). These days, the complex is a very popular and visited landmark of the city; there are always many tourists here.

18. Old customs building

The structure was erected in the middle of the 14th century, as there was a need customs control goods transported along the Rhine. With the advent of customs, regular collection of tax duties was established. The historical building was destroyed during the Second World War. Restoration took place in the 50s. XX century. Today, an art gallery is located on the territory of the former customs house.

19. Strasbourg station

The central city station, covered with a transparent glass dome. The station was inaugurated in 1883, in 2006-2007. a grandiose reconstruction was carried out, which cost the city 150 million euros. As a result, the building acquired a larger glass gallery and heated floors. Strasbourg Train Station is an important transport hub in the eastern part of France.

20. European Quarter

A large number of administrative institutions of the European Union are concentrated in Strasbourg: the Council of Europe, the ECHR, the Institute for Human Rights and others (more than 20 organizations in total). The headquarters of these organizations are located in the European Quarter, which covers several districts - Robertsau, Wacken and Orangerie. The first supranational structure appeared in Strasbourg back in 1815; it regulated issues of navigation on the Rhine River.

This city was divided between France and Germany for several centuries. Today it has become one of the administrative centers of the European Union, as well as the intellectual center of France, because... the University of Strasbourg is located here.

Strasbourg has a very rich history. Here you can see ancient temples of the Early Middle Ages of the 12th century, half-timbered houses, many unique museums, beautiful gardens and parks, historical monuments etc.

We bring to your attention a brief description of the sights of Strasbourg with photos and we wish you to definitely visit this a beautiful city to see its magnificence with your own eyes. What can you see in Strasbourg?

Sights of Strasbourg on the map

This is the name of the romantic old quarter of Strasbourg, which today is located in famous List UNESCO as the cultural heritage of humanity. The first mention of Little France was recorded in the 16th century.

In those distant times, simple artisans lived here with their families. Many were engaged in tanning leather, so for decades there was a terrible smell in the quarter. Today, Little France is a beautiful part of Strasbourg, adored by tourists.

This square is located in the historical quarter of the city. It often hosts various events, state and citywide celebrations, ceremonies, national holidays, etc.

The square bears the name famous resident Strasbourg, General Kleber, who participated in the wars on the side of Napoleon. It is his sculpture that stands in the center of the square. And around there are administrative mansions and excellent restaurants with good cuisine.

This Catholic cathedral began to be built in the 11th century. In its place there used to be an ancient Roman sanctuary. Over the course of hundreds of years, the temple was repeatedly reconstructed and restored: from Romanesque to Gothic architectural styles.

Most of all, tourists like the astronomical clock installed here in the 14th century. On the watch dial you can see the orbits of the planets with the mistakes that medieval astronomers made in the distant past.

This is the most famous building in Strasbourg and is definitely worth a visit. It was built at the beginning of the 15th century using the half-timbered principle. Later it was rebuilt several times until it received a skillfully carved façade.

On the facade of Kammerzell's house there are 75 windows and many carved decorations depicting biblical fairy-tale characters, signs of the Zodiac, famous musicians of those distant times, as well as female images of Faith, Hope and Love.

Opposite the cathedral is another landmark of Strasbourg and all of France - Gotenberg Square. This man made the city famous throughout the world by inventing typeface. Since then, the principle of printing has not changed.

This happened in the middle of the 15th century, and the first book to be printed was the Bible. In the square there is a statue of Gotenberg, who is holding a large sheet of paper in his hands. If you look closely, you can see that this is one of the pages of the Bible.

This is one of the most famous historical landmarks of Strasbourg, a Baroque architectural monument. The palace houses three Strasbourg museums: archaeological (located in the basement), decorative and fine arts.

The palace was built on the site of the archbishop's residence in the first half of the 18th century at the direction of the local Cardinal Rogan. King Louis XV of France stayed here, Napoleon I and his wife Josephine and other famous and great people stayed here.

This museum is located in a beautiful 16th-century mansion, which was previously a slaughterhouse for several hundred years. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, on the instructions of the city authorities, the building was given over to the museum.

The French city of Strasbourg is located in the eastern part of the country and is the historical capital of Alsace. It is home to almost 273 thousand inhabitants. It was built on the banks of the Ile River near the border with Germany. The border location of the city determines the spread of the culture of both border countries in it. It is natural that after World War II it is considered a symbol of their reconciliation. As a result, France and Germany became the founders of the European Union.

Since 1992, the city has the status of the parliamentary capital of the continent. Meetings of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament are held here. Strasbourg plays a significant role in financial and banking activities. Innovative projects in the field of medicine and engineering technologies are implemented here. It is visited by millions of tourists who get acquainted with objects of unique historical heritage.

Being the second most important museum archaeological finds France, it is second only to the National Museum of Antiquities. The collection of the local museum has been collected since the end of the 18th century.

The exhibition includes unique well-preserved artifacts from different historical periods. She reveals in a fascinating way ancient history Alsace, on whose territory people lived many thousands of years BC. The museum's funds are constantly replenished, including through numerous excavations and gifts from admirers of the country's history.

Location: place du Chateau - 2.

The station building of this ancient city amazes with its futuristic design. It resembles a huge flying saucer made of glass and metal that covers the station, built back in 1883. At that time Alsace belonged to Germany.

The modernized station became part of the modern national railway network. And is the most important transport hub western France. It has the most powerful computerized control center. Many amenities have been created for passengers, the floor is equipped with central heating.

Location: Place de la Gare.

An important element of the defense of Alsace in the Middle Ages was a unique dam, named after the outstanding military engineer Marshal Sebastian Vauban. The dam was built after Strasbourg became part of France in 1681.

It is a bridge with a covered gallery on which you can cross the river. It was designed in such a way that in the event of an attack on the city, an elaborate system of locks would block the water that would flood low-lying areas. In this case, the enemy’s attack was impossible. The dam is fortified with watchtowers.

This luxurious palace Baroque style built in the 18th century on palace square in the very center of Strasbourg. It was designed by the chief royal architect de Cotte, who created a palace similar to those in Paris.

It was the residence of the all-powerful Cardinal de Rohan-Soubis, in whose hands religious and secular power was concentrated. An entire block of buildings was demolished for its construction. Throughout its existence, the palace has seen many outstanding personalities. In 2008, it hosted a meeting between the presidents of France and the United States.

This medieval mansion is built on a wooden frame. However, it is so luxuriously and sophisticatedly finished that it does not look like a half-timbered structure. Being late Gothic in architecture, this house is classified as Renaissance due to the careful artistic carving of its wooden elements.

The unusually beautiful stained glass windows with original shaped glass are amazing. Each of the 75 windows is decorated with elegant carvings with sculptural images of biblical characters and zodiac symbols. Here you can see marvelous mythological creatures and amazing allegorical stories.

Location: 16 – Place de la Cathédrale.

In the Petite France quarter, a medieval half-timbered mansion hanging over the water is noteworthy. It is called the House of Tanners because it was here that the members of the tanning workshop gathered. Under its roof, skin was dried in special openings. The house was a kind of center of the artisans' quarter, who met here with leather craftsmen to discuss common problems. After World War II, a restaurant serving Alsatian cuisine was opened in the house.

Location: 42 - Rue du Bain aux Plantes.

The city has a European Quarter, characterized by unique buildings in which pan-European structures operate. First of all, these are the buildings of the Palace of Europe and the European Parliament. The highlight of the first is the famous semicircular hall under a dome in the shape of a sea shell.

It has hosted plenary meetings of the Council of Europe since 1977. In addition, there are almost a thousand offices for secretariat workers and 17 smaller meeting rooms. The European Parliament building was built in 1999. It looks like a huge wing made of steel and glass. It is crowned by a symbolically unfinished 60-meter tower.

This incredibly beloved corner of the French and numerous tourists became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It represents French Alsace in a concentrated form.

It may seem that it was created specifically for tourists. In fact, his story is not simple and not always rosy. In the Middle Ages, artisans and fishermen settled here. This is confirmed by the appearance of the beautifully preserved timber-framed houses. This is a favorite photography spot for tourists.

This museum appeared in the city in 1801, when the revolutionary government decided to organize such museums throughout the country. Works of art requisitioned from the homes of the aristocracy, as well as those seized from the church, were to be exhibited here.

Since then, the museum's funds have been constantly replenished through the acquisition of new works and the donation of several large collections from private individuals. Part of these funds consists of paintings received from the Louvre in Paris. Among the largest collection of Italian paintings, a portrait of a young woman by the great Raphael stands out.

Location: 2 - Place du Château.

Strasbourg is famous for having one of the largest such museums in France. In addition, it stands out for its building of an original design, similar to a glass cube. The museum moved there in 1998. All conditions have been created here for storing valuable objects of art and making it easy for you to get acquainted with them.

The Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art arose from a large collection of works of art donated to the city by one of the local collectors. Today there are almost 19 thousand works in the museum’s collections various styles and genres, including those made by world-famous masters.

Location: 1 - Place Hans-Jean-Arp.

This folk art museum stands out for its originality. It is here that everyone can see with their own eyes the details of the life of the inhabitants of the region, local traditions and customs, rich history and the beauty of the city and surrounding area.

The public first became acquainted with the museum in 1907, when it was opened in several notable houses of traditional architecture in the city. Their location on the river bank in the city center gives them a special charm. All buildings are connected to each other. The interiors contain furniture, household utensils, icons, toys, folk costumes and other unique exhibits.

Location: 23-25 Quai Saint-Nicolas.

This square, elongated like a boulevard, is considered the most respectable in the city. It is surrounded by beautiful buildings built in Art Nouveau and Neoclassical styles. One of them was built for the Bank of France in 1925. Here you can also see the town hall building, built in 1730, and the building of the Rhine Opera. The square is decorated with a monument to Marshal Leclerc, whose troops liberated Strasbourg from the Nazis in 1944.

It was in Strasbourg that Johannes Gutenberg launched the first printing press. This made the city the educational capital of Europe for many years. In 1840, one of the squares was named after him. A monument to the master was built on it. Gutenberg's facial features were invented by the sculptor due to the fact that not a single portrait of this printing pioneer has survived. The monument depicts him holding the first printed page of the Bible in his hands. The square is also decorated with the ancient building of the Chamber of Commerce.

The square is named after a native of Strasbourg, a famous French general who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic wars. Located in the very center of the city, it is the largest of the city squares. There is a monument to the commander erected on it, under which his remains rest.

Place Kleber is famous for the fact that the main Christmas tree of Alsace is placed on it, and the surrounding houses in holidays decorated with rich illumination. Her interesting object is a former guardhouse with images of prominent musicians.

In the center of this square you can see a monument to the dead residents of the city. It symbolizes the tragedy of its history, when its inhabitants were forced to fight for different countries. This is emphasized by the sculpture of a grieving mother holding her dying sons in her arms.

One of them died for France, the other for Germany. The current appearance of the square was formed at the end of the 19th century. It is decorated with the Rhine Palace, the former residence of Emperor Wilhelm I, the buildings of the university library and the National Theater.

This is one of the tallest temples in the world, striking in its size and decoration. It was built from sandstone almost a thousand years ago. Its surface gives the impression of lace, into which are woven great amount decorative details.

Among them are sculptures of saints and patrons of the city, mythical images and allegorical subjects. The patterned windows and magnificent ornaments amaze with their richness of colors and careful finishing. Its medieval North Tower reaches a height of 140 meters. The carved western façade dominates the building.

Strasbourg is very old City and at the same time very beautiful. It is not for nothing that its entire center, located on an island on the Ile River, is included entirely in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Ile River is a tributary of the Rhine, and the border with Germany is only 3 km from Strasbourg. The city's border location determined its appearance. Throughout its history, the city often moved from Germany to France and vice versa, and absorbed all the best from these countries - German neatness and French charm, Catholicism and Protestantism.

Many people have probably heard that the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg and the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights is located. For these power structures, an ultra-modern quarter was built on the outskirts of the city. You can even visit the European Parliament building, but due to the limited time we had, we only visited the sights of the historical center of Strasbourg.

This is very easy to do on foot as you can cross the island from one end to the other in just 15 minutes on foot. But there is no need to rush. The island is home to an amazing collection of architectural masterpieces. Among them are the Cathedral, Covered Bridges, Roan Palace and other vivid evidence of the secular and spiritual life of the city with more than two thousand years of history.

Grand Rue and Gutenberg Square

First of all, we went to Strasbourg Cathedral. It is the heart of the city. On the way we walked along Grand Rue, in many french city oh there is a street with such a simple name. We looked at the magnificent half-timbered houses.

Grand Rue

Most of the streets in the historical center of Strasbourg are pedestrian and narrow; modern car traffic has nothing to do on such streets; you need to walk along them and enjoy the walk, looking at old houses and very modern, but at the same time harmoniously designed shop windows.

Textured door on Grand Rue

It is difficult to photograph Strasbourg, because the streets are very narrow, there is absolutely nowhere to go. Therefore, the house can only be captured in parts, alas. There are many houses in Strasbourg with such intricate bay windows, this is just one of them as an example.

Bay window on the same house

The beams of many half-timbered houses are very old and worn. Strasbourg, of course, suffered in World War II, but to a much lesser extent than Cologne, Dresden or Warsaw.

Half-timbered houses

Plants and flowers add special picturesqueness to the houses.

House in Strasbourg

Alsace is generally a very flowery place.

Flowers of Alsace

We crossed Gutenberg Square. He invented the method of printing books using typeface. In 1455, the first Bible printed by printing was published in Strasbourg. The invention of printing contributed to the prosperity of Strasbourg. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the city was the capital of printing, playing a decisive role in promoting the ideas of the Reformation.

Monument to Gutenberg at Gutenberg Square

Next to the Gutenberg monument there is an old children's carousel, almost the same one we saw in Avignon at the beginning of our year.

Carousel at Gutenberg Square

The Cathedral Square is decorated with the Kammersell House with its seventy-five carved windows. This is the largest and most beautiful house of all the half-timbered buildings in Strasbourg. There is a restaurant there, and later we had dinner there.

House of Kammersell

Strasbourg Cathedral

Strasbourg Cathedral is simply huge, before the cathedrals in and were completed. Strasbourg Cathedral was for more than 200 years the tallest cathedral in the entire Christian world. It was built, as expected, over two and a half centuries, from 1176 to 1439. The finishing took even longer.

It is not possible to photograph it entirely with my camera, so I stole a photo of the general view of the cathedral from the Wikipedia website for clarity. Here it is photographed in the rays of the sun and therefore has a slightly yellowish tint, in fact it is pink, I even thought at first that the cathedral was made of granite, but no, it turns out it was built from local pink sandstone.

Strasbourg Cathedral, general view of the western facade

The following photographs are mine and better reflect the true color of the cathedral. Compared to the Cologne Cathedral, the Strasbourg Cathedral looks almost clean; the dust of centuries has not ingrained itself into it. By the way, for some reason there are a lot of gypsy beggars in Strasbourg. There they are sitting on the porch just under the sculptures of Virtues conquering vices.

Side portal of Strasbourg Cathedral

The stone carving is, of course, colossal.

Central portal - Passion of Christ

The interior of the cathedral is no less interesting than its intricate facade.

Strasbourg Cathedral

Pulpit from 1485 by Hans Himmer

The lower part of the pulpit.

When visiting the cathedral, you are immediately struck by the fact that most of the original stained glass windows have been preserved. The oldest stained glass windows from the 13th century depict successively the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation

Stained glass

Most of all visitors to the cathedral, of course, are attracted by the astronomical clock. A whole team of Swiss watchmakers took part in the creation of this wonderful watch; they completed their work in 1570. The clock shows not only the time, but also the day, month, year, zodiac sign, moon phase, planetary positions and some astronomical data (for example, the clock accurately predicted moon eclipse March 28, 2006). Every 15 minutes there is a mini show of moving figures, but the fullest show starts once a day at 12:30.

Astronomical clock with moving figures

I was amazed by the trick with the paid lighting of some parts of the cathedral, I have never seen anything like this. For example, to get a better look at the astronomical clock, you need to put a 20-cent coin into a special apparatus and the light will turn on. In summer the cathedral is quite light, but in winter you will definitely have to fork out some money.

In general, European economy amazes me, in the winter we visited, they turned off the lights there immediately after the end of the service, this despite the fact that we paid for the ticket, what a waste.

Theatrical performance at the walls of the cathedral

We got to see a whole performance at the walls of the cathedral quite by accident. At first it seemed to us that the guard was about to be removed, because music started playing, a flag on a pillow was brought out, and the guard’s attire of course raised some doubts.

But what happened next was simply enchanting and very funny, the artists played great, despite the heat and their non-summer clothes.

Theater show at the cathedral walls

At the walls of the Stasburg Cathedral, they raised the English flag with jokes and jokes, and later the Queen of England herself arrived in a rare car. The action took place on English language.

Artist

The Queen took a tea set from her purse and drank her five o'clock tea, as befits a queen, made a speech from the throne and washed it all down with champagne. We laughed for probably 40 minutes, all these simple actions were so comical.

An officer pours the Queen a cup of tea

Roan Palace and houses along Morocco Street

The Roan Palace is located opposite one of the facades of the cathedral. Cardinals from the Roan clan lived in the palace at one time, as many as 4 generations. Now within its walls there are three museums - the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Not only the kings of Europe imitated Versailles, the cardinals also built themselves a palace in the spirit of Versailles, and they received Louis XV and Marie Antoinette there.

Roan Palace

Gothic garden of the 13th century, designed according to the instructions of Albertus Magnus

On Safyanovaya street, former street Shoemakers, you can photograph every house. The photo below shows a house with carved beams.

Many windows are decorated with flowers, and almost all houses have restaurants and cafes on the ground floors.

Half-timbered houses on Safyanovaya Street

Again a house with a bay window and flowers.

Half-timbered house on Safyanovaya Street

Hot in Strasbourg

We headed along the picturesque embankment to the Petite France area.

Embankment of Strasbourg

Petite France

The Petite France district is probably the cutest in all of Strasbourg. The name is very romantic until you read the guidebook. In fact, in the area there was a hospital where they treated the “French disease”, or syphilis, which spread at the end of the 16th century due to the fault of the soldiers of the army of Francis I. The hospital no longer exists, only one name remains, which to this day bears this old quarter rugged with canals tanners.

Petite France Quarter

Numerous people walk along the river water buses, because there is a lot to see along the embankments. Ahead is a drawbridge. In the photo below, the bridge has already been opened for the passage of one of the trams.

There are cozy cafes throughout the city center

Classic meat tartare

We had dinner at Kammersel's house near Strasbourg Cathedral. Dad was ordered cabbage with sausages, I was given a salad, and Pasha was ordered French fries with meat. It seemed like you couldn’t imagine a more conservative dish, but it was with this dish that we were in trouble. The meat turned out to be just raw minced meat; it never occurred to me that you could eat or even serve raw minced meat in restaurants.

Classic meat tartare

The menu was in English and there was nothing wrong with it; there was definitely the word meat and something about sauce. Now I googled it and it turns out that French-style meat tartare is raw minced meat, so beware of tartare in France.

Covered bridges

This is another one of most picturesque places Strasbourg.

After dinner, at dusk, we went to the Covered Bridges and the Vauban Dam. Previously, there were 24 such towers on the river, now only 3 remain. The towers were built from 1230 to 1250 for the defense of the city. Previously, the bridges between the towers were fortified structures like the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence.

Medieval towers, remaining from the city fortifications

Covered bridges opposite the towers

Around 10 pm we went to look for a tram stop and saw a disco near the walls of the Church of St. Thomas. How can people want to dance when it’s +39 outside?

Disco at the Church of St. Thomas

And in Strasbourg the fun continued, an evening light show was shown at the Strasbourg Cathedral, musicians walked through the streets of the city, and theatrical performances were staged in the squares. Crowds of people continued to wander through the streets of the hot city.

Despite the terrible heat, we really liked Strasbourg, very picturesque city. We would also like to see the Orangerie Park, but we no longer had the energy, and it was late. If you have a whole day in Strasbourg, you can probably have time to cover all the sights of Strasbourg: the city center, the Orangerie park and the European Quarter. It would be nice to visit Strasbourg before Christmas; they say they have one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

This was almost the end of our journey; the next day we went to Travemünde to board the

Strasbourg. France.

Strasbourg is a city in eastern France, the capital of Alsace, a region that borders Germany.
Strasbourg was founded by the Romans, who set up a military camp here during the German campaign in 14-16 AD. Argentorat was the name of the settlement at that time.
In the 4th century. Strasbourg became the seat of the bishop. In 357, on the outskirts of the city, a big battle broke out between the German Alemanni troops and Emperor Julian; in that battle, the German king was captured, and Julian a few years later became the Roman emperor.
But in 366 the Alemanni captured Strasbourg and Alsace, as well as most of Switzerland. In V the city came under the rule of the Huns and then the Franks.
In 1262 Strasbourg became free city. Around 1520, the Reformation began with the publication of Martin Luther's religious doctrine.
In 1681, Louis XIV annexed Strasbourg to France.
In 1870, Strasbourg capitulated to Prussia.

In 1940, German troops occupied the city and annexed Alsace. In 1944, Strasbourg was liberated.
In 1949, Strasbourg was chosen as the seat of the European Council and, since 1952, of the European Parliament.

Let's start our route around Strasbourg from place Kleber, this square is easily accessible from the railway station on foot.
Place Kléber is the largest square in the city., it is named after General Jean-Baptiste Kleber, a participant in the Napoleonic Wars, born in Strasbourg. His statue adorns the square. The brick-colored Aubette building, built in 1765-1778, is noteworthy. architect Jacques François Blondel. Three artists worked on the interior decoration of the building - Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Jean Arp and Theo van Doesburg, as a result of which it became known as the “Sistine Chapel of abstract art”.

Kleber Square. Strasbourg. France.

Cafe Paul. Strasbourg. France.

The street leads to square place Gutenberg. On the spacious square there is a statue of Johannes Guttenberg, a jeweler and inventor, famous for the fact that in the 15th century. he created a method of printing with movable type. There is a carousel in the center of the square.
Through the narrow street there is a view of the huge Cathedral Notre Dame, which is the main religious building of the city.

Notre Dame Cathedral.

Strasbourg. France.

Strasbourg Cathedral is a unique combination of French and German Gothic features, characteristic of Alsace.

Construction of the cathedral lasted from the end of the 12th century. until the end of the 15th century, it is associated with German masters - Erwin from Steinbaa, Ulrich from Ensingen and Gultz from Cologne. The cathedral tower, topped with a spire, rises to a height of 142 meters; for two centuries (from 1647 to 1874) it was the tallest building in the world!
The cathedral has three naves; the model for construction was the naves of the Cathedral of San Denis, built in the 13th century.
The astronomical clock attracts special attention. The first mechanical watches were invented in the 13th century, which revolutionized the world of time measurement. Many city buildings installed mechanical clocks, and Strasbourg was one of the first cities to place a clock inside a cathedral. This happened in 1352-1354. , they were called “Volkhov’s watches”.

Portal of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Strasbourg. France.

Leaving the cathedral, let's pay attention to the carved Kammerzell's house– a half-timbered building built in 1427. The richly decorated façade was added in 1589. This is one of the most famous and beautiful half-timbered houses in the late German Gothic style.

From the Cathedral we will walk to the embankment.

Strasbourg street.

There is a historical museum, a former customs house and a little further the Roganov Palace.

In addition, they depart from here boats on which you can take a walk along the waterways of Strasbourg. Required item excursion program!
The waterway passing through the city is the Ile River, a tributary of the Rhine. In Strasbourg, the Ile River is divided into branches, uniting with canals, they form a picturesque tourist quarter– “Little France”, which we will visit later.
River walk we can leave on the boat for the evening, when we are tired of hiking, and the setting sun will paint the houses on the embankments in golden colors.
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Boat trip. Strasbourg. France.

Monumental Rogan Palace- one of the most significant buildings in Alsace in the Baroque style. It houses three museums - the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Rogan's Palace. Strasbourg. France.

Let's cross the bridge to the other side, turn left and walk along the Batelier embankment.
Quai des Pecheurs– one of the pleasant places in Strasbourg for evening relaxation with a glass of cocktail. There are numerous bars and clubs located on barges.

View of the Pecher embankment. Strasbourg. France.

Pecher embankment. Strasbourg. France.

Sharp spiers are St. Paul's Church, made in the neo-Gothic style in 1892-97. The church is located on the island of St. Helena.

Church of St. Paul.

Strasbourg. France.

Let's turn to avenue de la Liberte', which leads to Rhine Palace. This is the ex imperial palace, erected in the German part of Strasbourg in 1883-88. The palace is surrounded by an extensive garden. During the Franco-Prussian War, Strasbourg became German city and the question arose about receiving the emperor, which was the reason for the implementation of the palace.

Rhine Palace. Strasbourg. France.

Let's walk along Quai Jacques-Sturm to Catholic Church of St. Peter the Young made of red brick. Opposite the church there is a statue of a monk and explorer of Africa Charles Eugene de Foucault. He was beatified almost a hundred years after his death. Charles de Foucault served in the French army and later traveled alone through Morocco and the Algerian Sahara. In 1890, he joined the Trappist order, preached in Africa, while simultaneously studying life and customs local residents– Tuaregs. Foucault died during the uprising, leaving behind a large dictionary of the Tuareg language, the book “The Renaissance of Morocco,” as well as works on the study of Tuareg poetry.

Let's cross to the other side of the Il River Quai Schoepflin and let's continue on our way.
After some time, on the right side we will see high-rise buildings - these are shopping mall and hotels, turning left here, we will get to Kleber Square, where our route began (about 3.5 km).

Here we can continue our journey along the embankment to "Little France"- the most picturesque quarter of Strasbourg. Or from Place Kleber take the Fosse de Taner street, which also leads to Petite France.

"Little France".

The Il River is divided into numerous canals and small waterfalls, forming pieces of land on which half-timbered houses are crowded. The colorful quarter, buried in flowers, looks like a gingerbread city, cozy cafes overlook the canals, and crowds of tourists walk along the clean streets. But at the end of the 15th century. everything was different, a hospice was built here for patients with syphilis, which was called the “French disease.” This is where the name of the quarter came from.

"Little France".

It's worth going to the other side to take a look. Vauban Dam, erected in the 17th century. on the Il River. The dam rises several floors up, sculptures are located here, and from the top level there is a magnificent panorama of the center of Strasbourg.

Vauban Dam inside. Strasbourg.

View of Strasbourg from the dam.

European quarter. Strasbourg. France.

View from the bridge. Strasbourg. France.

Strasbourg is a cozy city in eastern France, historical capital Alsace. The population is about 300,000 people. His story is very interesting. It is believed that Strasbourg was founded in the 1st century.

Throughout its existence, it was alternately part of Germany and France several times. This unique historical experience allowed Strasbourg to become the parliamentary capital of Europe, the center of many public organizations. Including the world-famous Strasbourg Court of Human Rights. It is no coincidence that the headquarters of the Council of Europe is located here. After all, Strasbourg symbolizes the reconciliation of the two countries.

This one has unusual city like two faces. Territorial affiliation with France contradicts the truly German name of the city. The word Straßburg literally translates from German as “city by the road”. On the streets you can hear both French and German spoken. But the vast majority of residents speak a specific Alsatian dialect. The imprint of the two states is clearly visible in the architectural appearance of Strasbourg. French water buses and the Gothic Cathedral seem to transport you to the banks of the Parisian Seine. And the cute half-timbered houses and majestic churches make you doubt that you are not in Germany.

Some residents of Strasbourg move to live in Germany, while they prefer to travel to France for work. This is due to the fact that prices are much lower on the German side. Therefore, it is recommended to do shopping in Germany. Fortunately, there is a bridge across the Rhine, across which you can easily move to the German town of Kehl. There is even the opportunity to walk along the pedestrian bridge. There are parks on both sides, making these walks attractive to both locals and tourists.

They have something to see and where to relax.

Main attractions of Strasbourg

You should start your acquaintance from the city center. It is bounded by the branches of the Il River, which explains the name “ Big Island"or, as the French say, Grande Ile. It is listed as a world cultural heritage UNESCO. The unique architectural appearance of ancient Strasbourg is amazing. Old city located quite compactly. You can get around it in a few hours. But if time allows, feel free to set aside a whole day. You want to stop near each building and absorb this special atmosphere of ancient streets with every cell.

Cathedral Square can rightly be called the heart of Strasbourg. Here is the Strasbourg Cathedral of Our Lady (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg). This is the main attraction of the city. Its height is 142 meters. The location for construction was not chosen by chance. Back in the 7th century, the first christian temple. Since then, it has changed and transformed, destroyed by fires and again risen from the ashes. Until the grandiose Gothic giant grew up, inspiring awe and admiration. Facades with carved figures, medieval stained glass windows, an ancient organ, a unique astronomical clock - every detail is worthy of attention.

If you want, go up to observation deck Cathedral. Just calculate your strength in advance - you will have to overcome 332 steps on foot. But the panorama that opens up is worth it. The whole of Strasbourg will be visible at a glance.

To the right of the cathedral is the Rohan Palace, the former residence of the bishops of Strasbourg. Now there are three most interesting museums cities - Archaeological, Museum of Decorative Arts and Museum of Fine Arts. This is a good chance for tourists to have time to visit everything without long searches and travel.

Be sure to take a tour of Strasbourg's canals on the bateau mouche pleasure boat. The journey will last just over an hour. During this time, the boat will go around the historical center of the city and pass through 2 locks. This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the famous Petite France quarter, the memorable covered bridges and Vauban dams.

What to bring from Strasbourg

In addition to impressions, you can bring many unique souvenirs from Strasbourg. For example, wood inlays depicting Alsatian landscapes. You can find real works of art. Craftsmen connect pieces of the “mosaic” from different types of wood. The accuracy of the reproduction of the drawing is amazing. This painting will decorate your home and become an unusual gift for friends and family.

Wood painting in the old Alsatian style, bright paintings on glass, fabric souvenirs with folklore patterns, Bötschdorf and Soufflenem ceramics - this is not a complete list of local wonders. But the main souvenir is a figurine of a white stork, the symbol of Alsace. Legend has it that this bird brings happiness and good luck to the house.

You will return from this trip enriched with impressions and with the desire to return to this magical city again.

Interesting facts and what to see in Strasbourg. Part 2

In Strasbourg you can also visit:
+ Gayot Market Square – we are talking about everyone's favorite square, surrounded by bars and restaurants where students often meet.
Don't forget to see the house of the famous Cagliostro. Beautiful building, which saw the light of day in the 18th century, stands on the corner of Rape Street. This is the same Count Cagliostro who was involved in the scam with Queen Marie Antoinette's necklace.
+ Walk up Rape Street and the palace of the Rogan family will appear in front of you in all its grandeur. This delightful building was built in the 18th century by Bishop Armand Gaston de Rohan-Soubize to replace the previous bishop's palace. The palace was built in a classical style and became an extremely visited place after its conquest by the common French.
Through the majestic gate, which is “guarded” by the statues of Saint Clemence, you will find yourself in the courtyard. The main building of the palace consists of three floors, of which the 1st floor belonged entirely to the bishop.
Currently, the palace has been turned into not even one, but three museums:
- the palace itself, where you can visit the rooms of the persons who occupied it, as well as their servants;
- Museum of Decorative Arts, where you can admire a collection of ceramics, gold and silver, as well as furniture;
- Museum of Fine Arts, where a collection of works by artists of the 16th-18th centuries is presented.
+ The Notre Dame Museum of Art is located next to the Rohan Palace and is housed in several beautiful buildings. The oldest building is on the left and dates from the 14th century, the one on the right is from the 16th century, and the two behind were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. These buildings form the museum ensemble.

The museum displays works of art created during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Here you can admire wonderful stained glass windows, of which the stained glass window of Christ of Wissembourg is the oldest in all of France, as well as sculptures, tapestries, gilded rooms, canvases and altar paintings, and in the courtyard you can wander through the garden, in which medicinal plants used in that era are planted .
+ Square in front of the Cathedral: Strasbourg Cathedral is surrounded by beautiful houses, which are not counted. House number 10 used to house the oldest pharmacy in France, but a few years ago it closed and now you can buy tickets for the city in this building. cultural event. House number 16, the Kammerzell house, is one of the most famous in Strasbourg and was built in 1571 by a cheese maker. The building is made very skillfully, based on the Renaissance style. The lower floor is made of stone, while the upper floors are made of carved wood, and the stained glass windows are made from the bottoms of bottles. The beams are carved with religious and secular scenes. There was still a device on the roof that showed how much stock was left in the attic.
In addition, it is believed that Cathedral Square is terribly windy. One of the legends says that during the construction of the Cathedral, one dark night, the devil flew past him and, intrigued by the cathedral, stopped his faithful horse - the wind - in front of him and entered the building, but was taken by surprise by the morning mass and is still languishing to this day on one of the staircases, and the wind continues to faithfully wait for him outside, circling around the Cathedral.

Strasbourg Cathedral
The symbol and pearl of Strasbourg. Construction of the cathedral began in the 12th century and ended in the 16th century. The cathedral is made of pink stone, with a peak reaching 142 meters into the sky, which made it, until the 19th century, the most tall building in Europe. The cathedral is designed primarily in the Gothic style, although some elements of the Romanesque style are observed.
The huge façade nevertheless gives a feeling of grace and lightness. In particular, this is the merit of thin columns, which distract attention from the massive walls behind them.
Three portals lead to the Cathedral, which are lavishly decorated with sculptures. The northern portal is decorated with statues depicting earthly virtues and vices, the childhood of Christ was chosen as the subject for the tympanum, and the curve of the vault is decorated with angels and other characters.
The tympanum of the main portal contains statues of prophets, and its subject is the passion of Christ. Scenes from the old and new testaments adorn the vault.
The southern portal presents the classic theme - Wise Virgins (they hold a lamp and open tablets of the law next to the ideal husband) and Foolish Virgins (they hold inverted lamps and closed tablets of the law and stand next to the tempter, who holds the apple of temptation, and reptiles sit on his back ). The tympanum represents the scene of the Last Judgment.
The interior of the Cathedral is designed in typical Gothic style and has rich and varied decorations.
Two elements of the Cathedral's interior decoration are most noteworthy:
1) The Column of Angels, built in 1230, is the central column of the hall, on which twelve wonderful sculptures are located: the first level is the evangelists, above them are angels playing trumpets, the upper group is Christ, sitting, surrounded by angels who are holding various objects that awaken passions.
2) Anatomical clock from the 16th century, richly decorated, on which you can see characters coming to life in their hour. One angel rings a bell and another turns over an hourglass, while twelve characters representing different human ages (from a child to an old man) pass before Death. The watch shows not only the official time, but also the solar time, as well as the day, month, zodiac sign, lunar phase and planetary positions.
In the same room where the Column of Angels is located, you can see a statue depicting a man leaning on the balustrade. Legend has it that the statue depicts the architect who competed with the one who made this wonderful column, ahead of its time. The competing architect argued that one single column could not support such a massive vault, so he leaned on the balustrade and waited for everything to collapse.

Sights of Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a very unusual French city, and it is also the administrative center of Alsace. Culture, architecture, history - everything here has absorbed and intertwined French and German characteristics. This is an ancient city, which is located on the banks of the Rhine River - one of the most big rivers Europe. Strasbourg attracts not only European tourists, but also from all over the world. Everyone can stroll here along the old historical streets and get acquainted with medieval architecture.

Strasbourg itself is like a history textbook. Walking around this city, you can learn about its past, and looking at the bridges, buildings and cathedrals, you are convinced that these are masterpieces. Basically, all buildings are in the style of neoclassicism and renaissance. The younger buildings are modern and baroque.

Arriving in the city, first of all, you need to take a walk around the Old Town, on whose territory there is the largest number of architectural monuments. Here you can see Morocco Street, and it will lead to Cathedral Square, where the Strasbourg Notre Dame Cathedral lies majestically. It was built in 1015 and retained its appearance until 1439, when it was finally rebuilt. The facade in a simple style is topped with beautiful sculptures, and the interior preserves the past in the form of ancient stained glass windows of the 12-14th centuries. Strasbourg is famous for another cathedral - the Church of St. Magdalene. Since the Middle Ages, there has been an organ there that both tourists and townspeople love to listen to.

The highlight of the church is the astronomical clock with a unique mechanism that has not failed since 1842.

Not far from the Church of St. Magdalene there is Haberdashery Street, which stores most of the architectural masterpieces of Strasbourg and, in addition to them, many shops and souvenir shops. An ancient building from the 13th century, located on the street is now Olenya's pharmacy, where medicine is made according to an old recipe. There used to be a pharmacy here; it was mentioned in documents in 1348, so it is a very significant landmark. Immediately parallel to the pharmacy there is another old building from the 16th century - it is decorated with an unusual-looking bay window. The first floor of the building is an old cafe with extraordinary comfort, where you can taste traditional pastries and drink a cup of coffee. In the old town is the 15th-century Kammerzell House, which specializes in trade.

On the banks of the Ille River stands the Strasbourg Historical Museum, which was founded in the 16th century. Before this, there was a slaughterhouse here, and now in the museum you can learn the history of Strasbourg and look at exhibits from those times. Close to Historical Museum there is the well-known Corbo Bridge, where people were constantly executed - they were put in cages and drowned in the river.

All tourists who have been to Strasbourg can tell you that the most interesting area is “Little France”. Once there was a military hospital here, and then they built beautiful bridge, similar to a castle - Saint Martin. Also in this quarter there is the Lohkas tavern, which has existed for several centuries, and the Vauban dam. But the most famous building here these are covered bridges, on the sides of which towers are built, and the roots of the bastion go far under the water of the river. You should definitely see the Tanners' House and the Museum of Modern Art.

Guttenberg Square was built in honor of John Guttenberg, who has a monument in the middle of the square. On Guttenberg Square there is also the old Town Hall, which long ago lost its purpose, as well as the powerful Roganov Palace, which within its walls contains as many as three museums - archaeological and decorative and fine arts.

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