Strolling Strasbourg, the Christmas capital of Europe

Strasbourg is the capital of the former Alsace region. It is known for being the Christmas capital of Europe. My husband and I were lucky enough to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and experience the holiday ambiance of the region this past winter break. Although we couldn’t make it during the peak season of December, we were able to visit on the first week of January and still enjoy the festivity of the town known for its Christmas markets. What is cool about Strasbourg and the Alsace area in the general, is that it is a fusion of German and French cultures so, when you visit, you will be able to get a feel for both countries. So enjoy this post dedicated to the Alsace region and learn why it is the best time to visit during the winter holidays!

Places you need to see and the experiences you need to have:

Strasbourg is an easily walkable town. It is a lovely place to explore on foot and here are some spots you will need to check out during your time there -

1. The Grand Ile: the old town of Strasbourg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is encircled by a river and multiple canals. This is where you will find a majority of the popular spots (including some of the following places on the list). We walked around the Island and then made our way to the inside. It is doable, and I would highly recommend it so you do not miss a thing. Coming from Paris, we definitely felt like we were in another world. It felt like time traveling back to the medieval times and nothing beats the feeling of being transported to another time and place. This island full of half-timbered houses and beautiful canals was such a cool experience.

   

2. Petite France: Another gorgeous area of Strasbourg! My photography lovers, this is your heaven. You can capture some really nice shots with the identical half-timbered homes. There is also a small path leading to the middle of the river. Here, you can see how high the water level is. There are also some beautiful colorful homes by the water, which serves as a great background.

   

   

3. The gothic towering, Notre Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral: You cannot miss it because it is ginormous. 141 meters to be exact. It is the second tallest cathedral in France so definitely, something you want to check out. I personally favored this one more compared to its namesake in Paris. Both the exterior and the interior of the church are inconceivable. The architecture is just beautiful. It is mind boggling to think about how people back in the 1400s built such a sublime building without the technology we have today. The details are so intricate and you can see how much work and effort was put into constructing this cathedral.

   Entrance to the church is free of charge. Inside, you will find a pretty cool astronomical clock, several decorative stain glasses, and a magnificently carved pillar of angels. You can also climb up the terrace for only 5 euros and if you are currently studying in Europe, I believe there is a 40-50% student discount. You cannot beat that. Every cent is worth the view from the top.

   

   

   In order to climb up to the top, you need to enter from the right side of the building, where you will find a small door. You can purchase your ticket there as well. The line was not too bad when we went. My husband and I went up to the terrace on foot and boy, was it a workout! And the spiral staircase (332 steps to be exact) did not make it any easier. I was pretty determined at the beginning of our climb, but as we got higher, I grew wearier and my fear of heights started to kick in. I clearly had no clue what I was getting myself into. However, every step is worth the shaky legs because the panoramic view was just out of this world.

   

4. Musee de l’Oeuvre Notre Dame: If you are into the art of the Middle Ages and enjoy learning about the origins and interesting background of this historical town, then you should definitely drop by this museum. It is located next to the cathedral and gives some insight into the church as well.

5. Chateau de Rohan: this is a huge palace that houses a few cool museums including the Archeological Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Decorative Arts.

What is Strasbourg's food culture?

If you visit around the winter holidays, the streets will be filled with the delicious smell of gingerbread cookies, yummy bretzels, and of course, mulled wine. This is the perks of visiting during the winter holiday season. As I mentioned above, the Alsatian region is a beautiful merge of the German and French cultures, and the influence of that mix is especially visible in the culinary world of Strasbourg. The food is not exactly very light. It is on the heavier side with the main Alsatian dish being sauerkraut, which is fermented cabbage with multiple different types of sausages. And the sausage is usually pork.

Another popular food from this region is the bretzel. They are basically soft salty pretzels. For those who love cheese - I mean does anybody not like cheese?! Is that even possible?! Anyways, back to the bretzels - these bretzels are also served with a coat of melted cheese. Very appetizing, and very dangerous. Strasbourg also offers some tasty Alsatian wine so, enjoy a glass or two. Or, maybe a bottle or two. One thing to note, if you decide to visit in the warmer months, you can visit the neighboring villages and discover some beautiful vineyards and also, explore the exquisite Alsace Wine Route.

Is Strasbourg safe?

Strasbourg, especially the historical center was very safe! We arrived from Paris at early 6:00 in the morning and not a soul was out. It was still pretty dark and the sun had not risen yet. Almost everything was closed and the town was so peaceful and calm. Because it was quite dark, we were kind of worried. However, the city was very secure and free from danger.

The FlixBus station was located in more of the urban part of the city, about 25 minutes walking distance to the centre and even then, we did not have any issues regarding safety. Upon our arrival to the historical district of the town, we were lucky to quickly spot a Starbucks near the Notre Dame cathedral, where we had a quick coffee to wake ourselves up. I say quickly because I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to capture some nice pictures of the sunrise. Aside from photos, it was also a beautiful thing to experience: sunrise reflecting on the colourful timber-homes and the penny coloured towering cathedral.

All in all, Strasbourg is a lovely historical city to explore and it has exceeded every expectation of ours. If you visit during the holiday season in December, you will experience the Christmas ambiance like no other! Definitely visit if you are ever in the area. Or, if you are just looking for a new destination to check off of your list.