Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace Region in north east France. The city is located close to the border with Germany. Strasbourg has many of the European institutions located there such as the Council of Europe as well as the European Parliament.

Not only that, the port of Strasbourg is the second largest on the Rhine after Duisburg in Germany.Strasbourg’s historic city centre, the Grande Ile (“Grand Island”) was classified a World Heritage Centre by UNESCO in 1988 and is really worth seeing. There is plenty to see and do and you will not find yourself bored exploring around this quaint but exciting dual-city.

Strasbourg is fused into the Franco-German culture and has been a bridge of unity between France and Germany for centuries. Due to its location it is an excellent opportunity for visitors to experience both countries traditions and cultures.

Strasbourg is the ideal destination for those of you interested in architecture as there are many interesting buildings that have survived both world wars. The Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg is a huge sandstone gothic cathedral and deemed to be Strasbourg's most famous landmark. There are many other buildings, particularly churches that are really worth seeing- visit the Church of St. Thomas, the Church of St. Jean or the church with the largest dome in Alsace- the St-Pierre le Jeune catholique, to name but a few.

There are also plenty of museums to visit. Why not try the The Musée des Beaux-Arts that exhibits numerous works by Botticelli, Rubens and Goya or the Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain which has some very interesting works.
Don’t miss the medieval bridge- Ponts Couverts- the view with the cathedral in the background is so picturesque. Strasbourg's historic La petit France is a serene collection of cobblestone roads, fine restaurants and 16th-century buildings. You will definitely find some of Frances famous cuisine here.

Strasbourg is also easy to get to with the Euro-star and many of the cheap airlines provide regular flights to the city. It’s a great place to go for a short or weekend break. The best time to visit would be on the run up to Christmas when the Christmas Markets take place, full of Christmas lights, a huge Christmas tree and of course, plenty of German and French delicacies to try. Great for unique Christmas presents. After all that shopping be sure to warm yourself through with a Gluwein!