Strasbourg: Where Germany Meets France

The largest port on the Upper Rhine, Strasbourg makes the most of its German and French cultures due to its location at the border of the two countries. The quaint and well preserved Old Town is enclosed on all sides by the Ill River giving it the feel of an island. Petit France is the city’s most picturesque and romantic area with half-timbered buildings, cobblestone streets, quaint sidewalk cafes, and historic guild and merchant houses. Four channels flow through the heart of the area via the Ponts Couverts, defensive bridges that were covered with wooden roofs.

A very walkable city, Strasbourg has numerous ornate and well-preserved buildings. A tree-lined pathway takes visitors past the City Hall to a beautiful Opera House. A few steps away is the National Theater, and beyond that the National Library. The library is surprisingly modern inside. But the most impressive is the Palais du Rhin with its well-manicured park and grounds. Built in 1889 for Kaiser Wilhelm, it has served numerous purposes over the years.

The Cathedral Notre-Fame de Strasbourg is acclaimed as one of the world’s most beautiful examples of high Gothic architecture. It was the tallest building in the world until 1874, it is truly a vision of breathtaking beauty.

The Alsace region is known for the high quality of its cooking, which fuses hearty German fare with an elegant French flair. From cozy bistros to Michelin-starred restaurants, diners can feast on such delicacies as white asparagus, flammekueche (a chewy flatbread smothered with lardons, onions and creme fraiche), smooth creamy cheeses, the ubiquitous bretzel, and all kinds of tempting pastries.

The white stork has historically been a symbol of Strasbourg. The species had dwindled over the years until 1971 when more than 900 storks were reintroduced to Parc de l’Orangerie. Although most had flown south for the winter, we saw hundreds of their nests as we passed through the park. A fun and quirky tribute to the city’s favorite birds is a collection of pixel storks that an artist has installed throughout the city. Inspired by Invaders mosaic invasion, Artist Stork’s goal is to stick his artwork everywhere. We spotted two of his pixel storks in Strasbourg (although the one on the right is somewhat obscured by Christmas decorations.)

We started our day in Strasbourg dodging raindrops, but by the afternoon the sun came out and we could fully enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful city, including street music and food.