Explore Strasbourg, France - Your Way
Strasbourg is a unique city in France that is located in the northeast corner of the country. This city with its 2000-year-old history shares a border with Germany, because of which you will find a mix of German and French culture in terms of food, language, and traditions.
This city has a culture of its own, termed Alsatian.
Capital of the Alsace region, Strasbourg is one of the largest medieval quarters in Europe.
The cobbled streets keep weaving between timber frame houses that have been standing intact for hundreds of years.
The tug-of-war between Germany and France for the city’s authority makes it even more beautiful and exciting.
In some places, you will find a turn-of-the-century district constructed by the Germans, and in others, you will admire the 17th-century fortifications developed by Vauban. Cross-pollination leaves its marks on the city’s wine and cuisine as well.
Looking forward to doing some unique things in Strasbourg, here is a short guide.
1. Take a Sightseeing Tour
Although Strasbourg is just 78.26 km2 in area, there are so many sights worth exploring in the city. Some of the most noticeable sights include Strasbourg Cathedral, Parc de l’Orangerie, Barrage Vauban, Ponts Couverts, Église Saint-Thomas, Musée Alsacien, and of course, the European Parliament. Palais des Rohan, Neustadt, Musée Historique de Strasbourg, and Eglise Saint-Pierre le Jeune are other worth-visiting places in Strasbourg.
2. Try the Cuisine Influenced by Both German and French
The city is situated in the French Alsace region across Kehl, Germany. The city’s beauty, culture, and cuisine are highly influenced by both French and German. The two countries are connected not only through geography, but history has also played a major role in making it tumultuous.
One way to experience both cultures is to try the city’s cuisine that you won’t find anywhere else. The main characteristic of Alsatian cuisine is a combination of German traditional food with a flair of French.
There are so many brasseries, breweries, and bakeries in Strasbourg where you can taste some German-style beer and Riesling wines of Alsace. Don’t forget to try tarte flambée, which is an Alsatian style pizza, featuring a thin and crispy crust in a rectangular shape, topped with white cheese, crème fraîche, thin onions slices, and French-style bacon named lardons.
If you happen to visit Strasbourg in spring, do not miss trying white asparagus, traditionally served with fresh mayonnaise and ham. Roasted pig knuckle is another popular dish served in Strasbourg. Kugelhopf is another local specialty that is Alsatian brioche filled with almonds and raisins.
3. Taste the Wines and Beers
Alsace is the only wine region in France, where most of the produced wines are varietal, which means that they are made using grapes only. Gewürtztraminer is a sweet and spicy wine often drunk as an aperitif or paired with dessert. Another popular variety is Riesling, which is complex and dry, and goes perfectly well with the Alsatian classics, such as pan-fried carp and choucroute.
Strasbourg is also located in the most productive beer region of France, with hops growing both north and west of the city. Some of the most famous brands like Kronenbourg, Fischer, and Karlsbräu belong to this region.
4. Go on a Shopping Spree
Strasbourg is lined with hundreds of restaurants and shops to explore, but still small enough to give you a village vibe while scrolling through. Don’t forget to pick some mementos from this Alsatian city. French fashions, Alsatian cookware, textiles, cheeses, and stork-shaped souvenirs are worth buying. There are sweet boutiques that sell beautiful boxes filled with candies, chocolates, and cookies.
So, if you are heading to Strasbourg, France, then apart from enjoying the compulsory favorites, try these unique things too to get an idea of the true Alsatian culture of the city. When you do these out-of-the-box things in Strasbourg, your trip becomes memorable for a lifetime.
When you are ready to start planning your vacation, give me a shout and I'll help you out!
Bon Voyage,
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