Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region and one of the key cities in Europe. Here are located the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. Located in the geographical center of the continent, on the border of France and Germany. During the history the city moved from one country to another, so two cultures combined here.
All major historical attractions are located within the "Grand Island" (Grande Ile). It is surrounded by the river Il and it is impossible to get lost. In general, the city is very convenient for tourism, walking here is a pleasure. It has a well-developed tram network and bikes are also popular.
The entire city center is listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
In the evening, be sure to come to the Vauban Dam (Barrage Vauban). It offers the most canonical view of Strasbourg. These are covered bridges of the 13th century, part of the historic city fortifications. Originally they were wooden and in 1865 rebuilt from stone.
And of course the quarter with half-timbered buildings - Little France (Petite France), the most visited place in the city. It is the traditional medieval craft quarter.
The main attraction of the quarter is the House of Tanners (Maison des Tanneurs). It was built in 1572 and is one of the prettiest half-timbered houses in Strasbourg. Today, here is a restaurant.
In addition to the historical center, it makes sense to visit also at the parliamentary (European) quarter. You can get there by tram line E to the stop of Parlement Européen or Droits de l'Homme, or you can walk along the river Il (~2 km) as we did.
As you can see on the photo, the quarter is very different from the rest of Strasbourg. Architecture here is modernistic.
The building of the European Parliament (1999) is simply huge, about 300 meters in length. At the top there is an unfinished tower, which resembles either the Coliseum or the Tower of Babel. The architects did not disclose their idea, so decide for yourself.
Until 1999 the meetings of the European Parliament were held in the building of the Council of Europe (1977). This organization, founded in 1949, is independent from the EU. Called to unite countries on democracy, law and culture. The building does not look like a palace, more like a bunker.
A small gift from Canada. I always believed that this sculpture was designed specifically for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. But, it turns out, that this is an ancient symbol of the Inuit, the indigenous population of Canada.
There are also a huge number of different appeals for help. In general, this is not surprising, since in recent years the Council of Europe has simply turned from a real mechanism into a symbol. And the events in Turkey, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and other countries are the best confirmation. A lot of talks, but no real actions.
Right next to the parliamentary quarter is the largest city park - Orangerie, founded in 1681. On the territory there are playgrounds, several lakes, a grotto with a waterfall and a small zoo.
Getting there: There is an airport in Strasbourg, but it is small. Therefore tourists mostly come by TGV trains: from Paris - 1 hour 45 minutes, Lyon - 3 hours 50 minutes, Marseille - 6 hours 20 minutes, Frankfurt - 2 hours, Basel - 1 hour 20 minutes, Zurich - 2 hours 20 minutes.
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