5 Reasons Strasbourg Trumps Paris This Summer

Who needs the Eiffel Tower and an outrageously-priced cuppa Domaine Thalabert on the Champs-Elysees when you could be munching on a pretzel in the European capital and beautifully historic town of Strasbourg, under Alsace’s very own Notre Dame?

Now only a 5h40 train journey from London St Pancras through France’s idyllic countryside, the unique northeastern region of Alsace is more accessible than ever.

1. Go On A Boat

Batorama regularly runs guided tours on an open-air “bateau mouche” from the foot of the cathedral around Grand-Ile, the historic centre of the city and home to ‘Little France.’ Expect lots of ancient bridges, traditional-style wood-beamed houses and shops selling such idiosyncrasies as speciality buttons. The historic centre is also home to Notre Dame de Strasbourg (much cooler than the Paris one) that regularly hosts events such as recitals spectacular light shows under the stars. Also the clock does something awesome at 12.30 every afternoon. No spoilers.

2. Go Shopping

Shopping in Paris is seriously overrated. And expensive. At least in Place Kleber, the downtown shopping centre on Grand-Ile, you can explore to your hearts content, browsing anything from the the fashion isle in Galeries Lafayette, to the DVD floor electronics superstore la FNAC or even the second hand book market that regularly fills the square. There’s also an Apple Store and Games Workshop as well as hoards of galleries to satisfy all your high street desires.

3. Eat. A Lot.

Did you know that the oldest depiction of a pretzel comes from 12th century Alsace? No? Well, people here do and they’re proud of it. Buy the real thing from a street food stall or any of the boulangeries around town (there’s quite a few). If you have a sweet tooth, try patisserie Christian for the best ice cream – period. They also have very artfully constructed marzipan treats. If you can spare the calories, (who’re we kidding? You’re on holiday!) the Burestubel in Pfulgreisheim, a short drive from the city centre, has a dangerously addictive tarte-flambee. If you don’t know what that is, there’s another reason to skip Paris.

4. Go Cycling

Now I’m going to make you feel bad about your health. Luckily, though, Strasbourg is France’s ‘most cyclable city’ with over 248 miles of bike routes. You can grab a Velhop (Strasbourg’s prettier version of Boris Bikes) for just 5€/day, or 1€/hour. Maybe you’ll even catch some MEPs wheeling it around the European Parliament to set that good example.

5. L’Orangerie

Just down the central Allee de la Robertsau is L’Orangerie, the 26-hectare oasis of cool in the middle the city. Sure, Paris has parks. Unfortunately, it also has pesky park security who ask you not to sit on the grass. Here, not only can you picnic to your heart’s content, you can also enjoy the park’s children’s farm (yes, you can feed them), bowling alley, kiddie car circuit (grown-ups allowed), two playgrounds, buddhist gardens, star-gazing pit, Napoleon’s wife’s old palace and a zoo. With flamingos. I could go on…

And if you get bored, hop off to the Deux Rives public park and cross the architecturally incredible Pasarelle Mimram, the bridge reuniting the French and German sides of the river. A la prochaine.

By Sarah Morland