Strasbourg Photo Gallery

A French city with a seemingly German name, Strasbourg was a major trading centre thanks to the Rhine nearby. Annexed by the Germans during the Franco-German War in the 1870s, the city reverted to French rule after World War I, only to be occupied again during World War II.

Driving in from Germany, the difference across the border is quite dramatic. The cars look much worse and traffic is less orderly. As it was a stopover on a long driving day, I had to make best use of a few hours to explore the city's key highlights.

The Cathedrale de Notre Dame is the city's grand landmark. Construction of the 142m-high Gothic structure took over 400 years and finally finished in 1439.

The narrow streets around the cathedral are quite nice to randomly explore with a few grand squares. Be sure to visit La Petite France, which was once home to fishermen, millers, and tanners. Ironically, it was once a poor district. During the Middle Ages, waterfalls in the area led to construction of mills, and workers stayed in the area. Today, half-timber houses from the 16th and 17th centuries remain and are a must-see for tourists.