Strasbourg, Le petit France

Oh peeps, Strasbourg! 🙂 Really delightful place!! A principal town of the Alsace region in eastern France (great wines shouldn’t be mentioned at all).

Placed at the border with Germany, it developed the special dialect between german and french language.

I went there to attend the meeting at European Parliament, but of course I used the opportunity to get around. That travel soul in me would never forgive myself if it happened opposite.

Allocated in the European Quarter with the meaning to never again divide Germany and France (the core countries of Europe divided by the river Rhine) like in World War ll, but to be united for the strong European Union.

 

So, already being impressed by being here, I ran to meet this beauty: Strasbourg’s Cathédrale Notre-Dame, completed in all its gothic grandeur in 1439. The interior is exquisitely lit by 12th- to 14th-century stained-glass windows.

And then I crossed the river L’Ill and entered the La Petite France, which is one of the most picturesque areas of Strasbourg at the western end of the Grande Île, which contains the historical centre of the city. The mentione  River Ill splits up into numerous channels that cascade through an area that was in the Middle Ages home to the city’s tanners, millers and fishermen, and is now one of Strasbourg’s main tourist attractions and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Little decoratives left me stunning as well…  hanging or written on half-timbered buildings which, together with the narrow lanes and footbridges that connect them, mostly date from the 16th and 17th centuries…

Some years later…

Same me, same Strasbourg but different conditions 🙂 How come? Well, apart of chinese virus breaking the world down, I came to visit Strasbourg again while re-routing from Vin d’Alsace. The excitement was there but the feeling that I got back from this city was odd. Once bubbling city, co-sit of EU full of young diplomats and opportunities – now was just said, no mingle, with sad streets, bars and restaurants.

Flammekueche (Alsatian), or tarte flambée (French) is a speciality of the region of Alsace. I had the saddest one here, in this city, sitting on the cold, at some fountain in front of the Palais Rohan – 18th century palace housing museum.

---

My third visit in 2023 to this city brought me food experience and more exploring. Except that the church was closed because of the communion that day. Our hotel was just next to it so I took a good look from the out side. Otherwise, the exploration went above and beyond.

As you can see, it was very touristy. Shops and restaurants are filled with lots of people. They were all here to admire this beauty: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg. This structure is among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture. In French Gothic architecture, the Rayonnant style is the third of the four phases of Gothic architecture in France, as defined by French scholars. The other three are basic, classic and rayonnant which radiates into flamboyant.

So, something about the kugelhopf. The most traditional of Alsace cakes pairs perfectly with the most festive of Alsace wines! They are made to get along with the fine sparkle of Crémant d’Alsace happily accommodating the sweetness of kougelhopf, and both sharing the aromas of brioche and roasted almonds. My partner said it reminds him on an anus with the whole in the middle. Pardon him, he is French!

Further our walk took us to this Protestant Church of the New Temple. Very Interesting name, isn’t it? This Lutheran church was built in the 19th century. The name “Temple Neuf” is a translation of the German name “Neue Kirche” that the former Dominican Church had carried since 1681, when, with the annexation of Strasbourg by Louis XIV of France, the Protestants had to leave Strasbourg Cathedral.

Place Kleber, the largest square at the center of the city of Strasbourg in the heart of the city’s commercial area, was named after French revolutionary general Jean-Baptiste Kléber, born in Strasbourg in 1753.

La Petite France (also known as the Quartier des Tanneurs; German: Gerberviertel; “Tanner’s Quarter”) is the south-western part of the Grande Île of Strasbourg in Alsace that forms the historic centre. Because of the canals of the river Ill winding between the charming, half-timbered houses, this neighbourhood reminds us of the past romantic times.

The Ponts Couverts are a set of three bridges and four towers that make up a defensive work erected in the 13th century on the River Ill. As a defensive mechanism, they were superseded by the Barrage Vauban, just upstream, in 1690, but remained in use as bridges. As built, each of the bridges was covered by a wooden roof that served to protect the defenders who would have been stationed on them in time of war. These roofs were removed in 1784, but name Ponts Couverts (covered bridges) has remained in common use ever since.

And that’s it for today’s walk 🙂 I don’t think I will be back soon, though. But Strasbourg’s charm remains.

Posted on November 14, 2016 6 By RED RIDING HOOD Home page Posted in Home page, Travel

RED RIDING HOOD

Weltschemerzer mit Sehnsucht. Travel is my catharsis.