Strasbourg – La Petite France

France is one of those European countries that we have visited already several times, but not actually traveled around much. This state of matters will finally change this summer, especially when it comes to southern part of the country. However, we began our tour in France with a short visit to Strasbourg, the capital of the Grand Est region in northeastern corner of the country. For some reason, possibly because Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament, we had the idea that it is a modern administrative city full of glass-and-steel buildings. Quite the opposite, we found a rather small and absolutely charming, historical French city with an Old Town area full of beautiful architecture, canals and medieval bridges. In this short post we focus on the old town area called Petite France, and share some pictures also from elsewhere in this picturesque city.

La Petite France

The historical city center of Strasbourg is situated on an island called Grande Ile, and is in fact a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petite France, that translates to Little France, is a part of the historical city, where fishermen, tanners and millers once lived and worked. Located just next to waterways, Petite France is a district of narrow cobbled streets and fairy-tale-like half-timbered houses that are decorated with flowers. Most of these colorful houses date back to 16th and 17th centuries, but seem to be in very good condition.

La Petite France is best seen on foot, walking along the streets and along the banks of the canals. The waterways reflect the houses built right next to them, or in same cases, even over the water. In the western part of Petite France the River Ill divides in four different streams, guarded by stone towers and old bridges that connect them. The three towers date back to 14th century, once being part of city ramparts. The stone bridges between them were covered with wooden roofs, and thus still known as the Covered Bridges. Petite France grew around these towers and bridges, and craftsmen and millers settled down there. The towers and bridges also had military significance, as part of the defensive structures of the city.

Petite France today is a tourist magnet, and no wonder why, but if you arrive there early in the morning, you can wander along the beautiful streets and over the bridges almost alone. We explored the area around 7 am, after a night bus ride from Vienna, and it was nearly empty, and the morning light was great for photographing. When we came back later in the afternoon, the streets were busy, and full of restaurant seating areas and tourist stalls outside the small shops. Well, it was still nice of course, but we preferred the morning hours when nothing was open and the streets were quiet. They say that Petite France is very beautiful and romantic also at nightfall; no doubt.

Cathedral of Our Lady

In addition to Petite France area, the Cathedral of Our Lady, also known as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, is a must-see sight in Old Strasbourg. And well, it’s pretty difficult not to see it, as the spire of the church is 142 meters high, rising high above the other buildings on Grande Ile. The cathedral is a magnificent masterpiece of architecture, built first in Romanesque style but mostly in Gothic style between 11th and 15th century. The facade is incredibly rich in detailed ornaments and statues, thousands of them, giving the church an elegant look despite the huge size of it. The cathedral of Strasbourg was for long (227 years, until 1874) the world’s tallest building, and still today it’s the sixth-tallest church in the world.

Planning a visit to Strasbourg? Reserve enough time for simply walking around the historical center of the city. There are so many beautiful streets, picturesque buildings and charming views from bridges, that time just flies by. Basically a day trip is enough to see the old town, but consider staying a bit longer to enjoy the city also late in the night or very early in the morning.