Strasbourg cathedral is an outstanding masterpiece of Gothic art. The first stone was laid in 1015 and the spire was completed in 1439. Described as "a skilful combination of monumental size and delicateness" by Victor Hugo, its facade offers a fantastic wealth of ornamental features. The 142 m spire is a masterpiece of architectural elegance and intricacy. Up until the 19th century, the cathedral was the highest building in the whole of the Christian world. To visit in the cathedral :
- A Renaissance masterpiece, the Astronomical Clock is a result of the combined work of artists, mathematicians and technicians. Swiss clockmakers, sculptors, painters and automaton designers all worked together to produce this superb attraction. The current mechanism dates from 1842.
The main attraction of the clock is its animated figures which come out to delight the public every day at half past noon. During this performance, visitors are treated to views of the different ages of life, personified by a child, a teenager, an adult and an old man, who all parade past Death. Higher up, the apostles have their own parade, before Christ.
- A climb up to the platform (332 steps) is a thrilling experience. The spiral staircase takes you to the very heart of the building, where you can discover some amazing views. The panoramic view from the top of the platform is breathtaking, overlooking the rooftops of Strasbourg and stretching out as far as the Vosges and the Black Forest in Germany when the weather is clear.
La Petite France : This is the most picturesque district of old Strasbourg. Fishermen, millers and tanners once lived and worked in this part of town where the streets have been built level with the waterways.
The magnificent half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Their sloping roofs open out onto lofts where hides were once dried.
La brasserie Kronenbourg : A mythical and not-to-be-missed place to visit in Alsace, for more than 30 years the Kronenbourg museum has welcomed almost 25,000 visitors every year on its journey to the centre of beer. Here you can discover the recipe of this age-old beverage at the "school of beer" and become familiar with its manufacture in the former brewing room.
The tour takes you underground, through the former storage cellars of 1850 where you will be told the history of beer and just some of the characteristics of the beer which, since 1664, have made Kronenbourg the number one beer in France.
At the end of the visit, you can sample a huge variety of beers in a typical brewery bar.
Museums :
- The Palais Rohan (Decorative Arts Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Archaeological Museum)
- The Oeuvre Notre-Dame Museum
- The Alsatian Museum
- The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- The Historical Museum
- The Zoological Museum
- The Tomi Ungerer Museum – International illustration centre