| Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region of | | | | Just near-by on place du Château is the Musée |
| France and is most widely known for hosting a | | | | de l'Oeuvre Notre Dame a splendid museum of |
| number of important European institutions. It is also | | | | medieval religious art related to the cathedral. |
| famous for its beautiful historical centre - the Grande | | | | Astrometric Clock in the cathedral |
| Île - which was the first city centre to be classified | | | | Maison Kammerzell (XVth century) (to the left of the |
| entirely as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. | | | | front of the cathedral) |
| Strasbourg is one of the nine largest cities in France | | | | Palais des Rohan French style palace, built after the |
| with nearly half a million inhabitants in a metropolitan | | | | acquisition of the town by the French (1681). Home to |
| area spanning across the river into the German city of | | | | the Museum of Fine Arts, the Archaeological Museum |
| Kehl, on the eastern bank of the Rhine. | | | | and the Museum of Applied Arts. |
| The city itself is the seat of the Council of Europe, the | | | | Musée Alsacien, This museum features articles |
| European Court of Human Rights, the European | | | | from the daily lives of Alsatian peoples from the 13th |
| Ombudsman, the Eurocorps, the European Audiovisual | | | | to 19th centuries: clothing, furniture, toys, tools of |
| Observatory and, most famously, the European | | | | artisans and farmers, and religious objects used in |
| Parliament, which also holds sessions in Brussels. | | | | Christian, Jewish, and even pagan rites. The exhibits |
| While it may be possible to find people who will | | | | are in rooms connected by wooden staircases and |
| engage in a conversation with you in German, the | | | | balconies in adjacent multistory Renaissance-era |
| lingua franca of Strasbourg (and all of Alsace) is | | | | houses around a central courtyard. The museum was |
| French. It is possible to hear German spoken on the | | | | renovated in 2007. €4 |
| streets, especially around the Cathedral. Alsatian (the | | | | Petite France - Petite France is the name given to the |
| historic germanic language of Alsace) is a declining | | | | small area between the rivers, just south of the |
| language, spoken mostly by the region's older residents | | | | Grande Île. It's home to some of Strasbourg's |
| or in rural areas. | | | | prettiest and most photogenic streets and buildings, |
| | | | | with half timbered townhouses leaning out over the |
| PLACE TO VISIT | | | | narrow cobbled streets. Petite France resembles |
| Strasbourg is a popular tourist destination primarily | | | | Colmar (a city an hour south), with picturesque canal |
| thanks to the beautifully preserved and pedestrian | | | | and half-timber houses. |
| friendly city centre, which can be explored on foot or | | | | Orangerie - a beautiful classical park. It has a small free |
| bicycle in a few days. Don't forget that Strasbourg's | | | | zoo featuring birds and a few other animals. Also has |
| appeal now brings tourists to the city throughout the | | | | an excellent playground for young children. |
| year, with large tour groups especially frequent during | | | | Stockfeld, garden city built in the early XXth century in |
| the summer months and during the annual winter | | | | the south-east of the Neuhof (southern part of the |
| market. Staying for a few days will allow you to see | | | | town) (bus line 24) |
| the city when it's calmest, first thing in the morning and | | | | ARTE Television headquarters. 4, quai du Chanoine |
| during the evening. | | | | Winterer, near the European district. |
| Cathédrale Notre Dame. Built between 1176 and | | | | B-line tramway terminus at Hoenheim (northern |
| 1439 and with a 142 metre tower (the highest | | | | conurbation) (2001), built by the contemporary architect |
| cathedral tower in France), the cathedral is | | | | Zaha Hadid. |
| undoubtedly Strasbourg's finest architectural highlight. | | | | |