Alsace & Lorraine

The Strasbourg Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and was the tallest building in the world from 1647 to 1874, standing at 142 meters. The west facade is a marvel of stonemasonry: hundreds of figures, scenes from the Old and New Testament, delicate rosettes, and tracery, all carved from pink Vosges sandstone that glows golden, pink, or orange-red depending on the light.

Victor Hugo called the cathedral a "wonder of the colossal and the delicate." Goethe climbed the tower as a student in Strasbourg to overcome his fear of heights — and was overwhelmed.

Inside, the stained glass windows from the 12th to 14th centuries impress with their vibrant blue and red hues. The astronomical clock (1838–1843) is a mechanical marvel: every day at 12:30 PM, a figurine show begins — the twelve apostles pass by Christ, a rooster crows three times, and complex gearworks display the positions of the sun and moon, eclipses, and church holidays.

The viewing platform (66 m, 332 steps) offers a breathtaking view over the old town, the Black Forest, the Vosges, and on clear days, all the way to the Alps.

Petite France is the most picturesque district of Strasbourg and one of the most photographed cityscapes in Europe. The former tanner and miller district is located on an island in the Ill River and consists of perfectly preserved half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries with steep roofs, flower boxes at every window, and open tanner lofts under the gables (the so-called "drying attics" where animal hides once dried).

The Ponts Couverts (Covered Bridges) — three bridges with four medieval defense towers — mark the western entrance to the district. From the Barrage Vauban (Vauban Dam, freely accessible), the best panoramic view over Petite France, the Ponts Couverts, and the cathedral in the background can be enjoyed.

The alleys along the canals — especially the Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes — are photogenic in every season: in spring with blooming geraniums, in summer with reflections in the water, in autumn with colorful leaves, and in winter with Christmas lights.

Despite the tourist crowds, Petite France is not an open-air museum — people live here, laundry hangs in the windows, and in the morning it smells of fresh bread from the boulangerie. Those who come early (before 9 a.m.) have the alleys almost to themselves.

Strasbourg is one of the culinary capitals of France — with a unique cuisine that combines French finesse and Alsatian heartiness.

Winstub S'Münsterstüwel · 8 Place du Marché-aux-Cochons-de-Lait
The most authentic winstub in the old town. Wood-paneled dining room from the 17th century. Tarte flambée (from €10), choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with sausage and meat, €18), baeckeoffe (stew with three types of meat, €22). Alsatian wines by the glass from €4.
€€ · Tue–Sat 12–2 p.m. & 6:30–10 p.m.

Au Pont Saint-Martin · 13–15 Rue des Moulins (Petite France)
Dreamy terrace by the canal in Petite France. Regional cuisine at a high level. Lunch menu €24 (starter + main course + dessert). Preselkopf (pork head jelly), Coq au Riesling, Gugelhupf as dessert. Evening à la carte main course €20–30.
€€ · Daily 12–2:30 p.m. & 7–10:30 p.m.

La Cloche à Fromage · 27 Rue des Tonneliers
The largest cheese buffet in France — over 200 types of cheese under a giant glass dome. Fondue from €22, raclette from €24, cheese platter for 2 from €28. A paradise for cheese lovers.
€€€ · Mon–Sat 12–2 p.m. & 7–11 p.m.

Maison Kammerzell · 16 Place de la Cathédrale
The most famous half-timbered house in Strasbourg (1427), right on the cathedral square. Touristy, but the building with its 75 carved window posts is a work of art. Choucroute royale €26, foie gras maison €24. Reservation recommended.
€€€ · Daily 12–2:30 p.m. & 7–11 p.m.

Musée Unterlinden & Isenheim Altarpiece

The most important museum in Alsace, expanded in 2015 with a modern extension by Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron. In addition to the Isenheim Altarpiece — whose folding wings display three different pictorial programs — the museum houses an excellent collection from the Middle Ages to modern times: Cranach, Holbein, Schongauer, Picasso, Monet.

€13 (adults), under 18 free. Wed–Mon 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Thu until 8 p.m.). Closed on Tuesdays.

Little Venice (Petite Venise)

The tanner's district along the Lauch: Quai de la Poissonnerie (former fish market), the pretty Rue des Tanneurs and the view from the Pont Saint-Pierre on the row of half-timbered houses are the highlights. Boat trip: €8/person, departure at Rue de la Herse, March–October.

Old Town Walking Tour

Start at the Place de la Cathédrale (Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin, 13th century, with glazed roof tiles), continue past the Koïfhus (Old Customs House, 1480), the oldest public building in the city, to the Pfister House (1537, magnificent facade painting), then through the Rue des Marchands and the Rue des Têtes (with the famous House of Heads — 106 masks and heads on the facade). Duration: about 2 hours.

Bartholdi Museum

Colmar is the birthplace of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the creator of the Statue of Liberty. His birthplace (30 Rue des Marchands) is now a museum with models, designs, and personal items. €6.

Winstub Brenner · 1 Rue de Turenne
Cozy winstub with a wood-paneled room. Tarte flambée "gratinée" (with Munster cheese) €12, Coq au Riesling €19, Tarte aux Myrtilles (blueberry tart) €8. Excellent Alsatian wines by the glass.
€€ · Thu–Mon 12–2 p.m. & 6:30–9:30 p.m.

Chez Hansi · 23 Rue des Marchands
Named after the Alsatian illustrator Hansi, whose nostalgic drawings shaped the image of Alsace. Traditional cuisine: head cheese €11, Baeckeoffe €22, Gugelhupf with cream €9. Touristy, but authentic cuisine.
€€ · Daily 12–2 p.m. & 7–10 p.m.

JY'S · 17 Rue de la Poissonnerie
Michelin-starred restaurant by Jean-Yves Schillinger. Creative French-Alsatian cuisine in a modern setting right in Little Venice. Lunch menu from €45, dinner menu from €85. Reservation absolutely necessary.
€€€ · Tue–Sat 12–1:30 p.m. & 7–9 p.m.

Marché couvert · Rue des Écoles
Covered market: cheese, charcuterie, pretzels, kougelhopf. Thu 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Perfect for a picnic by the canal.

Riquewihr is a fully preserved wine village from the 16th century, nestled in vineyards and surrounded by a medieval city wall. The only main street — the Rue du Général de Gaulle — is so picturesque that it is said to have served as the model for the village in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."

Half-timbered houses in all colors, wrought-iron inn signs, cobbled courtyards with vines, the Dolder (gate tower from 1291, now a museum, 4€), and everywhere the scent of fresh Kougelhopf. Riquewihr is touristy, yes — but it's simply too beautiful to miss.

Wineries in Riquewihr:

Hugel & Fils — Family-owned since 1639, one of the most renowned Alsatian wine houses. Tasting in the historic cellar (free), excellent Gewürztraminer and Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourg. Bottles from 12€.

Domaine Dopff "Au Moulin" — Known for Crémant d'Alsace (Alsatian sparkling wine, from 9€/bottle). Free tasting, large salesroom.

Kaysersberg was voted France's favorite village in 2017 (Émission "Le Village préféré des Français") — and rightly so. The town on the Weiss River has everything that makes Alsace special: a castle ruin on the hill (freely accessible, fantastic view), a fortified bridge from the 15th century, half-timbered houses with geraniums, artisanal bakeries, and excellent wineries.

Kaysersberg is also the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965), the doctor, theologian, musician, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. His birthplace at Rue du Général de Gaulle 126 is a small museum (2.50€).

The Christmas market in Kaysersberg (last weekend of November until shortly before Christmas) is considered one of the most authentic in Alsace — smaller and less commercial than Strasbourg or Colmar, with artisanal products and Vin chaud (mulled wine) from local wines.

Winery tip: Domaine Weinbach (former Capuchin monastery, Grand Cru sites Schlossberg and Furstentum) — one of the best wineries in Alsace. Tasting by appointment, 10€ for 6 wines.

The cathedral of Metz has the largest stained glass area of any Gothic cathedral worldwide — 6,500 m² of stained glass, earning it the nickname "Lantern of God" (Lanterne du Bon Dieu). The windows come from all eras: from the 14th century to Marc Chagall, who designed several windows from 1958–1968. His brightly blue and red windows in the north transept — scenes from the Old Testament — are among the most beautiful modern church windows in the world.

The nave reaches a height of 41.41 meters — one of the highest in France. The overall impression of the light flooding through the colored windows is overwhelming.

Free entry. Daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (summer until 7 p.m.). Guided tours in German and French through the tourist office (€8).

The first "branch" of the Paris Centre Pompidou opened in Metz in 2010 — a spectacular building by Japanese architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines. The hexagonal roof made of wood and Teflon membrane resembles a Chinese bamboo hat and is a masterpiece of engineering.

The museum features temporary exhibitions with works from the Centre Pompidou's collection (over 120,000 works, the largest collection of modern art in Europe). Three large gallery rooms, each with 1,000 m², provide space for ambitious exhibitions. The quality varies — check the current program in advance.

Even if the current exhibition doesn't convince: The building itself is worth a visit. From the rooftop terrace (freely accessible), there is a beautiful view over Metz and the train station.

The Imperial Quarter (Quartier Impérial, UNESCO World Heritage candidate) was built between 1902 and 1918 when Metz belonged to the German Empire. Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted to make the city the showcase of the Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine and commissioned the best architects with representative buildings.

The result is a unique ensemble of Wilhelminian neo-Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Neo-Renaissance: the monumental Metz-Ville train station (1908, entirely made of granite), the Main Post Office (Neo-Romanesque), the Governor's Palace, and numerous residential buildings with Art Nouveau facades. An architectural history walk through the district takes about 1 hour.