STRASBOURG

Strasbourg is a distillation of Alsace's true identity and has risen to the top of the list for French tourist destinations. Its Latin sentry post on the Rhine confers on it the coveted status of institutional megalopolis, as it welcomes, among others, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. It is rare that one visits Strasbourg by chance. This city combines multiple strengths that showcase both gastronomy and leisure. Having visited once, you will be sure to return.

Local tourism remains true to the authenticity of regional traditions and legends: graceful storks, world-class vineyards, and also a wonderful Christmas market. It is a joyful merry-go-round, renowned since the Middle Ages for its magical atmosphere, bathed in light and sweet scents, and offering an irresistible taste of gourmet artisan production.

Winter or summer, your stay will be full of surprises, including a fully charged events calendar with a very dynamic music scene, both in the classical and contemporary registers. Getting bored in this festive and college city is thoroughly impossible, especially as Strasbourg is overly gifted culturally. Alone, as a couple, or as a family, get the ingenious Strasbourg Pass, a magical key that will open all doors for three days, at your own pace and in complete freedom.

Two exploring options are available for a first visit to the city. Taking a boat, starting from the Quai des Bateliers, is highly enjoyable as well as informative. Floating on the water, landmark sites pass before your eyes such as the Petite France and the Tanners districts, the Vauban Dam, the European Institutions site and the Neustadt (new town). Walkers meanwhile can stroll about the picturesque 'Grande Île' (Big Island) in the old centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural riches, which have braved wars and centuries. But the grandest, and perhaps oldest landmark of all, Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, is a dizzying masterpiece of stone and glass that celebrated its millennium in 2015 and is as vital as ever.