Strasbourg is a city in the Alsace region of eastern France, about 400 kilometres east of Paris. The Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine, runs through the centre of Strasbourg, and the Rhine itself forms the eastern boundary of the city (with the German city of Kehl across the river.)
The city’s first historical mention was in 12 BC, when it was the site of a Roman military outpost called Argentoratum. By the 6th century AD, the city was known as Strasbourg, a Germanic name it retained even when the city was claimed by France in the 17th century. Strasbourg is saturated in history, and deserving of far more than the brief visit we made there in August 2019.
Petite France. The River Ill once provided water for mills and tanneries in the historic centre of Strasbourg. Today the river and its several channels provide reflection for the quaint buildings of the Petite France quarter.
Ponts Couverts. The bridges and two of the four towers that form a 13th century defensive barrier to the heart of the city. The bridges were originally covered with wooden roofs (hence the name “Ponts Couverts”, or Covered Bridges). The roofs were removed in 1784. This view is from the roof terrace of the Barrage Vauban.
Barrage Vauban. Originally built as a bridge and defensive structure in the 17th century, the 120-metre-long Barrage Vauban nowadays contains displays of sculptures and provides tourists with views from its roof terrace toward the Ponts Couverts opposite.
Architectural mélange. With Strasbourg’s complex history, plus control of the city ping-ponging between Germany and France, the variety of architectural styles is a delightful blend of old, new, Germanic, and French.
Lacy spire. The spire of the Strasbourg Cathedral towers 142 metres over the city. The cathedral was completed in 1439, and its delicate-looking spire is currently the sixth-tallest church tower in the world.
Council of Europe. Strasbourg is the seat of many international organizations, including the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. The Council of Europe occupies a cluster of buildings in the European District about four kilometres northeast of the city’s core, and includes the European Court of Human Rights, shown here.
Travel note: Strasbourg’s International Airport offers flights to and from other European destinations, but not North America. Train services offer routes to Paris, Basel, and Zurich, as well as other destinations. Local public transportation includes trams and buses. There is a bike-sharing operation in Strasbourg called Vélhop, and 500 kilometres of biking paths.
