Located in the Alsace region of France, Strasbourg is now most famous as the home of the European Parliament, though the town has been a major centre of population, and an important historical location, for centuries. An intriguing mix of the historical and the modern, attractions range from ancient buildings to modern museums about Europe.
Undoubtedly, the main historical attraction is the town's Gothic cathedral, completed in the 15th century after nearly 400 years of construction. Aside from the ornate chapels and religious artwork, the cathedral also features an ingenious astronomical clock, which runs once a day. Visitors can also watch a short film on the history of the clock in a side room of the cathedral. Another favourite with tourists is the climb up to the roof of the cathedral, to enjoy the view over the town and the surrounding countryside. The area of the town known as Petite France is always popular with visitors. The half-timbered houses along the sides of canals are ideal for strolling around, enjoying the scenery and keeping an eye out for some of the more unusual architectural features. Some of Strasbourg's original medieval fortifications, designed by Vauban, are still standing near this area, as are the “covered bridges”, though they lost their roofs over a hundred years ago.
Strasbourg is an ideal destination for those who enjoy museums, as there are several within the town on a wide variety of subjects. The main one is the Palais Rohan, featuring archaeological, historical and artistic artefacts from throughout Strasbourg's long history. The Alsatian Museum features recreations of typical Alsatian homes and houses examples of local costume, art and religious items while the Zoological Museum is home to a huge collection of stuffed animals and temporary exhibitions on various aspects of the natural world.
Even children will be entertained at Le Vaissea, a science centre where you can get hands on as you learn or the town's Planetarium. And who wouldn't enjoy spending a wet afternoon learning all about the secrets of chocolate making at the Musee du Chocolat?
No visit to Strasbourg would be complete without a visit to the European Parliament. The area of town where the government buildings are housed is also home to some pleasant parks with outdoor sculptures, as well as exhibitions on the brief history of the EU. If you want to actually visit the European Parliament building itself, you will need to arrange this in advance. This is usually done by contacting your local MEP.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Strasbourg? Then below is a selection of gites in Strasbourg and villas in Strasbourg that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
