Strasbourg

The other must-see activity, which delights tourists and locals alike every year, is of course the famous Christmas market. It's been a fixture of the winter season since 1570, attracting large numbers of visitors drawn by the warm atmosphere and enchanting illuminations all over the city. There's nothing quite like strolling through the town, sipping a delicious hot chocolate, eating a pretzel, while admiring the huge Christmas tree and illuminations. The magic of Christmas! 

There's plenty for food lovers, too: Strasbourg has a highly developed restaurant sector, especially in the city centre. There are all types of restaurant, from the most modest winstubs, where you can sample tasty Alsatian specialities, to the most prestigious three-star establishments.

Thanks to its geographical location and continental influence, Strasbourg has a wealth of attractive shops, department stores and an easily accessible city centre. The city is undoubtedly the largest commercial centre in eastern France. Not to mention its role as the seat of European institutions, with the headquarters of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.

Sites and monuments

• The Place du Château and the Tomi Ungerer Center.
• Cagliostro House.
• Kammerzell House.
• The old Customs House.
• St. Thomas Church.
• The Covered bridges.
• Vauban dam.
• The old Commandery.
• The Church of Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux.
• The Palace of Europe.
• The European Parliament.
• The Louise Weiss building.
• The European Court of Human Rights.
• The Parc de l'Orangerie.
• The Place de la Republique.
• The Imperial Palace.
• The National University Library.
• Strasbourg National Theatre.
• University Palace.

Museums

• The Oeuvre Notre-Dame Museum.
• Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
• The Alsatian Museum.
• Rohan Palace.

• Visit the gingerbread museum: Learn about the history of this specialty inside a house that looks just like the famous Alsatian dessert!
• Take a stroll around the beer village:  Alsatian beer, Belgian beer, international beer, whatever your taste, there’ll be something for you in this specialist craft beer shop!

Dishes

• Baeckeoffe: Potatoes simmered in Alsatian white wine, served with pork, beef or mutton.
• Choucroute: Alsatian specialty of shredded cabbage.
• Flammekueche: Thin pastry covered with cream, onions and bacon.
• Fleischschneke: Meat placed on a noodle dough, also known as “meat snails”.
• Knack: Pork sausage.
• Lewerknepfle: Liver dumplings.
• Matelote: Dish of various fish steaks served with a cream sauce.
• Coq au Riesling: Rooster flambéed in cognac.
• Munster cheese pie: Pork collar, soaked dry bread and mushrooms.
• Wädele: knuckle of pork or knuckle of pork served with sauerkraut.

Local cheeses

• Munster:  Soft cow's milk cheese
• Bibeleskäs : Unbeaten cottage cheese

Desserts

• Bredele: small Alsatian cakes
• Kougelhopf: brioche cake with raisins and almonds
• Gingerbread

Drinks

• Wine* from Alsace
• Alsace beer* “Elssabier

*Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation