Alsace: The region of colors

How it all began

I was dreaming to participate in an Erasmus exchange since I was in high school. When other young people were looking forward of university life, the parties, getting a driver license, making new friends, I was simply craving to meet another country from a different perspective by spending one semester there.

And so it happened! Twenty one and in love with France I chose really wisely to go for my first Erasmus exchange (yes, one out of two until now, but don't worry because we wil talk about my second one really soon) in Strasbourg.

The Strasbourg experience

For the ones that don't know Strasbourg, it's a mixture of German and French culture and it's one of the things that makes its identity so unique. It's also the capital of the french region, Alsace. One of the most beautiful and "pittoresque", as French people would say, regions of France.

You may now possibly ask: What makes Strasbourg so special? First of all, I have to inform you that as a Greek living near the sea my whole life it was hard for me to move to another country without waking up and see the blue. But thankfully in Strasbourg the Rhine flows, the river that embraces the city and its landscapes in such a beautiful way that is hard not to walk every day across of it.

It's true that only a river doesn't make a city beautiful though. And you are absolutely right! It's not the river that makes Strasbourg such an amazing destination. It's the old city (the Grande Île), the parc de l'Orangerie, the sunsets in Barrage Vauban, the medieval bridge Ponts Couverts, the imperial cathedral whose view you can admire from every spot of the city and so much more. Strasbourg, a city that speaks to you while you walk in it. Where architecture and nature are perfectly harmonized. Where history takes place and colours change according to seasons.

Alsace:The colourful region

As I mentioned before, Strasbourg belongs to Alsatian region. Alsace is a neighbor of Germany and Switzerland. You can take a bus ride of 15 minutes and find yourself in another country, like literally! Pretty cool, right? But this is only one beauty of this region. It's one of the most colourful places on planet you will ever see. You wouldn't believe how harmoniously Rhine completes the magical picture here.

Above you can see Colmar, an old town which has cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings full of colours of course. From there you can take a bus that goes through all the small villages nearby. Some of them have celebrations from time to time where they wear medieval costumes and make you feel like you are in Middle Ages. Of course due to the famous vineyards of Alsatian region, wine is a must try drink there.

So in case you are thinking of visiting Strasbourg save a day to explore the villages of Alsace. By train, bus or car just 30 minutes away from the capital. Preferably seasons: Autumn or Spring.

The Erasmus story

I spent 4 months in Strasbourg and I can assure you if I had to select again my Erasmus destination I would choose this one again and again. The people I met, the friendships I made, the places I visited, the cuisines I tasted, the hours I spent walking across Rhine, it all worth it. The memories from this place that I can know call a second home will forever stay vivid in my mind. The nights cooking with internationals in the dormitory's kitchen, the drinks in bars with new friends, me trying to learn German or practice my French, me living alone and far from home for the first time, me going to another university and attend lectures in French or English, my greek friends visiting me and exploring other places together, everything I look back now and seems like it happened yesterday. Strasbourg my love, I promise to visit you again soon cause once Erasmus, always Erasmus!

Useful information

How to reach Strasbourg?

By plane to Frankfurt, Zurich, Basel, Paris and then bus to Strasbourg or straight to Strasbourg airport.

What to eat and drink?

Choucroute garnie, tarte flambée, kugelhopf and beer (Kronenbourg or Meteor) or Alsatian wine.

What to see?

Alsace, parc de l'Orangerie, Notre Dame de Strasbourg, European Parliement, Petite France (old city), Barrage Vauban, Alsatian museum, place Kleber, palais Rohan.

Where to travel?

Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland.

Thank you for reading!