Half-timbered canals, cathedral & EU seat
Strasbourg
Strasbourg · Franco-German charm on the Rhine
Straddling the French-German border, Strasbourg blends the best of both: a soaring pink-sandstone cathedral, the storybook canals of Petite France, and a role as a seat of the European Parliament. Its Christmas market is among the oldest and most magical in Europe.
Top sightsSights
Strasbourg Cathedral
A Gothic masterpiece with an astronomical clock and a climbable platform.
Petite France
A postcard quarter of half-timbered houses along the canals.
Barrage Vauban
A covered bridge and dam with a rooftop panorama of Petite France.
European Parliament
The modern seat of the EU legislature, open for visits.
Christmas market
The "Capital of Christmas" hosts one of Europe’s oldest markets.
What to eatFood
Choucroute garnie
Sauerkraut piled with sausages and pork, the Alsatian classic.
Tarte flambée
A thin flatbread with cream, onion and bacon.
Kougelhopf
A ring-shaped Alsatian yeast cake with almonds and raisins.
Good to know
- Alsace wine route villages are a beautiful day trip by car or tour.
- The centre is a walkable island — rent a bike or take a boat tour.
- Visit in December for the Christmas markets, but book beds early.
Getting there
Strasbourg has a small airport; the TGV reaches Paris in under two hours and Frankfurt lies just across the border.
Next city
Paris