Strasbourg, France

Somehow, in my mind, I was convinced that Strasbourg was in Germany, so on this trip I learned something…Strasbourg is in France ( but it is right across the border from Germany).

So let’s visit Strasbourg, a French city with strong German influences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it)

Let’s start by taking a boat cruise around the island and out to the European Parliament buildings. A brochure tells us it will take about 70 minutes round trip to see “over 20 centuries of history”.

Our boat was just like this but it had a cover on the top. For picture quality purposes I would have preferred one like in the photo. If it had been a rainy day the covered boat would have been perfect.

The Petite France area of the city is charming. Buildings like these from the 16th and 17th centuries attract both the artist and the historian within you.

This covered bridge is also a dam that regulates water flow on the L’ill river, which flows in the Rhine. Evenings it becomes the “screen” for an enchanting light show that tells some of the history of the city.   For photos and more observations, click here.

I think that is St. Paul’s church we see in the distance. City leaders back in the 16th century (or thereabouts) had an innovative policy which led to positive coexistence of both the Catholic and Protestant churches. Take a boat cruise and you will learn about that policy. (How is that for an incentive!)

Here come some of the European Institutions... the European Court of Human Rights

and the buildings of the European Parliament.

 (See what I mean about picture quality of photos taken from a covered river boat!)

Here we turn around and head back (up river),  passing lovely old estates, walkways and parks along the river, past the university and back to the quai near the cathedral…where we disembark.

 

 

Where to next?

Shall we take a walk to see things closer up (click here to join us)

or shall we hop on La Petite Train (click here to join us)

We will be back in time for the Night Illuminations (click here to join us)

 

OR do you want to visit somewhere else in France? Click here.

or

somewhere else in the world? Click here.