Strasbourg Classics: Cathedral, Petite France & Grande Île
Explore the UNESCO heart of Strasbourg—climb the Gothic cathedral's 142-metre spire, wander the flower-decked canals of La Petite France, watch the astronomical clock perform, and discover why this perfectly preserved island city was the world's first UNESCO-listed city centre.
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Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
One of the most extraordinary Gothic cathedrals in the world, Strasbourg's Notre-Dame was the tallest building on Earth for 227 years (1647–1874). Its single tower soars 142 metres; the rose window and the famous astronomical clock—which performs a mechanical procession of the apostles at 12:30 pm daily—are unmissable. Climb 330 steps to the platform for views over the Rhine plain.
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La Petite France
The most photogenic district in Strasbourg—and arguably in all of Alsace—La Petite France is a medieval island neighbourhood of half-timbered houses, flower-draped bridges, and mill canals. Originally home to tanners, millers, and fishermen, its rue du Bain-aux-Plantes is one of France's most photographed streets. The Ponts Couverts (Covered Bridges) and the Barrage Vauban viewpoint flank it on the west.
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Ponts Couverts & Barrage Vauban
Three medieval towers and four bridges guard the western approach to La Petite France—the Ponts Couverts, despite the name, have been uncovered since the 18th century. Beyond them, Vauban's 17th-century dam offers a roof-level terrace with the best panorama of the old town's clustered towers and spires reflected in the Ill river.
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Place Kléber & Place Gutenberg
Strasbourg's twin central squares sit within five minutes of each other. Place Kléber, the city's main gathering point, is dominated by a statue of General Kléber and flanked by the Aubette—a neoclassical entertainment hall with an interior redesigned by De Stijl artist Theo van Doesburg. Place Gutenberg honours the printing press inventor who lived in Strasbourg 1434–1444.
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Palais Rohan – Three Museums in One
The sumptuous 18th-century Palais Rohan, built as the bishops' residence, houses three superb museums under one roof: the Musée Archéologique (Alsace prehistory to Merovingians), the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (royal apartments and Hannong porcelain), and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Raphael, Rubens, El Greco, and French masters).
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Grande Île – UNESCO World Heritage
The entire Grande Île—the island at the heart of Strasbourg enclosed by arms of the river Ill—was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, the first city centre in the world to receive this honour. Its coherent medieval and Renaissance streetscape of amber sandstone buildings represents 1,000 years of Alsatian urban continuity.