Strasbourg
Strasbourg situated in North East France and bordering Germany is probably best known as
the site of the European Parliament. However, Strasbourg features an eclectic mixture of
attractions catering for everyone from opera buffs to bikers. Strasbourg is where paté de
foie gras was invented and where the French national anthem La Marseillaise was sung for
the first time. It is a city that could be said to have an identity crisis but it is all the better for
it– swinging back and forth between German to French control several times over its history.
It was absorbed by Germany in 1871, for example, but returned to French control in 1918.
As a consequence, you are as likely to have sauerkraut on the menu as crepes.
The old part of the city has been designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Its 17th
century structures comprise of picturesque buildings such as 'Hansel & Gretel' style houses
and the Gothic cathedral (its spire was the highest in Europe until the 19th century), the
churches Saint-Thomas (XIIe - XVe centuries), Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux (XIIth - XIVth
centuries), Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune (XIIIth - XVth centuries), Saint-Etienne (XIIIth century),
the Museum of Notre-Dame, the Palais Rohan and the Covered Bridges.
Strasbourg has become well known as a centre of culinary excellence – it is particularly
noted for its Alsace wine, chocolate and of course the Pate Foix Gras.
As a university town, whose graduates include Napolean, Pasteur and Goethe, it of course
has ample facilities for the young and young at heart – trendy bars play the latest music,
tapas bars feature sangria, wine, tapas and perhaps some flamenco dancing. You of course
would expect that bars such as Le Rumble Fish, which is adjacent to a Harley Davidson
dealership to be the home to the Harley Owner Group, other bikers and, lets say pseudo
bikers may be found in Le Snooker- a bar where the servers are decked out like famous
actors.
Other entertainment options include classical music by the Strasbourg Philharmonic
Orchestra, cabaret and drama from the National Theatre of Strasbourg.
The town is also famous for its immense December Christmas market, in existence for over
400 years.
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