Travel to Strasbourg and enjoy a charming mix of France and Germany
If you’re looking for a day trip from Frankfurt, Germany and a change of country and scenery, there’s a great option just two hours away by train: Strasbourg, France.
Strasbourg, which sits on the west side of the Rhine in the Alsace region of northeastern France, is a charming blend of French and German culture, history and architecture.
The must-see in this picturesque town is the Notre Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral, which dates from the 11th century. A fire destroyed most of the original building, which was Romanesque in style, and it took on its current form as a Gothic cathedral in the 13th century. In the 1400s, a towering 466-foot spire was added, transforming the church into the tallest building in the world, a status it maintained for several centuries.
French writer Victor Hugo described Strasbourg’s Notre-Dame Cathedral as a “gigantic and delicate marvel”, while German novelist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who spent some time studying in Strasbourg, remarked that “its height is linked to its beauty”.
I agree with both men, having been moved and almost overwhelmed by the vastness of the cathedral, wrapped in red sandstone and adorned with extraordinary ornamentation and detail inside and out, statues and from sculptures to centuries-old stained glass and astronomical views. clock.
After a long exploration of the exterior and interior of the church and excessive photo taking, it was time to fulfill my cousin’s wish: to climb to the observation deck which, on a clear day, offers visitors views of the plain of Alsace, the Vosges and the Black Forest of Germany. We stopped several times during the “330 steps” climb to catch our breath and marvel at the hardly visible embellishments from the ground. (“Is that a sculpture of a dog with a bone in its mouth over there? Why, yes it is.”) The result – a spectacular panorama – was well worth the physical effort.
Legend has it that the wind that seems to constantly blow outside the cathedral can be attributed to the devil who passed by there in ancient times. Maybe it was the power of suggestion, but every time we passed it was oddly windy.
After finishing our visit to the church, we went to a nearby restaurant to stock up on pancakes.
Fortified, we stroll, stopping at open shops (it was a Sunday) and marveling at this enchanting place dotted with cobbled lanes, open plazas and buildings with patterns of criss-crossing wood and planters filled with flowers. and greenery.
To get a different view, we decided, like the many swans we saw, to jump into the water. During a boat trip along the Ill, we learned, among other things, that a number of institutions have taken up residence in Strasbourg, including the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of ‘Europe.
During our 10-hour stay, we also managed to work in a “snack” at Gruber, a restaurant with red and white checkered tablecloths, lots of wood, lots of character and a well-stocked menu. (The French onion soup and French wine were delicious, and the desserts displayed in an enticing display case, although we didn’t partake.)
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After walking a bit more and past the cathedral one last time, once again noting the eerie breeze, it was time to say goodbye to the Strasbourg storybook and board the train for Frankfurt.