Paris1972-Versailles2003

We have driven in the area and would like to have an imprint in my blog on the wonderful towns of my belle France, There is so much to see , doing my best, and glad found me these older paper pictures which now transposing in my blog for you and me, The pictures are old ,so the quality may not be as good ,but the memories are forever, Therefore, here is my take on curiosities of Strasbourg !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The City of Strasbourg is located in the European community of Alsace;in the Bas-Rhin dept no 67 in the Grand Est region of my belle France. Capital of the historic region of Alsace, it is bordered by the Rhine and directly border with Germany. It is 217 km fromf Frankfurt , 259 km from Luxembourg, 466 km from Paris, 466 km from Brussels, 69 km from Colmar, 530 km from Versailles and 987 km from my current house,

Strasbourg is located on an east-west axis which connects it on the one hand to Paris via Reims and Nancy/Metz on the autoroute/highway A4, and on the other hand in Munich via Stuttgart (E52). The city is also placed on a north-south axis which connects it on the one hand south of France via Lyon by the A6 and A7 autoroute/highway,and on the other hand to Frankfurt Sur-le-Main via Karlsruhe (E35) . Strasbourg is also connected to Germany by two bridges: the Pont de l’Europe, located east of the city and the Pont Pierre-Pflimlin, located in the southern section, and which allows better service to cities of ‘Offenburg and Friborg. When in town I parked by place Gutenberg underground parking easy walk all over.

My stop and walks were over the Christmas period and theser were the streets with description,

The rue des Orfèvres is a pedestrian area, it links rue du Temple-Neuf to rue des Hallebardes. It has several remarkable buildings, including some 18C goldsmith houses, to which it owes its name. Since it has gone to several changes as the period requires it but the reference to the current name of orfévres or goldsmiths is since the end of the Middle Ages until finally name stuck from 1945, It is very near the different places where the Christmas market or Christkindelsmärik takes place, Some nice house architecture to see here are at no 6-8 two houses have a double cantilevered, one dating from the 17C, the other of the 18C, At no 9 in the 15C Jean Ott, painter-glassmaker of the Notre-Dame work, remained at this place. The current building, a high half -timbered house, with a gable, dates from the 17C. It houses a pastry shop today, At nos 10-12 since 1738, these two houses replace the hotel of the chapter provost. A vaulted passage led to the Place du Marché-Neuf, At no. 14 house with storks: several goldsmiths lived there over the years.  Le Gruber has a good name resto but not chose it to eat as Au vieux Strasbourg both good, next time…..

Maison Bollinger, at 2 Rue Merciére, Souvenir and gift store in the historic heart of Strasbourg, the Bollinger house is a tourist institution at the foot of the cathedral. Over 400 years old, the house fascinates as much by its half -timbered architecture as by the multitude of gifts and souvenirs inside the store. You will find for example all traditional Alsatian pottery, glasses and mugs, wines and gourmet products, but also a whole bunch of little things of all kinds, in the colors of Alsace or the effigy of your favorite characters .Sublime ! The name of the street actually comes from the word mercier, designating retail sellers as opposed to wholesale under the Ancien Régime (monarchy). It is also this latter activity, the sale of fabrics, which will remain attached to the name, giving the words mercier and mercerie their modern meaning, linked to sewing work. Indeed, in the Middle Ages as today it is located in the heart of the city over the centuries, the street first benefited from the construction of the cathedral, then from the advent of the Christkindelsmärik. or Christmas market nearby. A great store cannot confirm if still open, need to verify but if they are worth the detour!

The Place du Château was built in 1215, the name of the square was only allocated to it in 1858,as it changed its name several times. Several prestigious buildings border the square: Notre-Dame Cathedral, the headquarters of the Notre-Dame work, the Rohan Palais, the former imperial school of the military health service as well as the Lycée Fustel-de-Coulanges. Five museums in the city of Strasbourg are domiciled there: the archaeological museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Notre-Dame Museum and the Cabinet of Prints and Drawings. In 2012, in the context of the redevelopment of the square, preventive archaeological excavations were carried out by INRAP between July and October 2012. This excavation delivered, among other things, two fragments of painted Roman frescoes. They have been restored and have been exhibited since May 2013 at the Strasbourg Archaeological Museum.

The Rue du Bain Aux Plantes ,towards the end of the street Place Benjamin Zix preserves several tanners’ houses from the 16-17C, often restored at the end of the 19-20C. The street is pedestrianized, as are other streets in the Petite France district. This pretty street is lined with beautiful 16C residences, in the Alsatian Renaissance style. They are built in half-timbering and corbelling. The houses are built , that is to say that the upper floors protrude in relation to the first floor. A way to pay less taxes at the time, The Lohkäs Winstub ,25, rue du Bain aux Plantes, Magnificent half -timbered house dating from 1676, the Lohkäs takes its name from the activity of tanners particularly developed in this district indeed, the craftsmen used the plant tanning made up of oak and chestnut bark. When the residue which was used to tan the leather no longer contained enough tannin, it was dried in cheese molds and sold as fuel in many local households. This product was called “Lohkäs” and was sold by the “Lohkästreppler”. The restaurant floor is below than the street because it used to serve as a storage place. I have ! Got me the picture we ate here and even the menu was Soupe à l’oignon, croûton gratiné or Gratinated onion soup, Choucroute aux 3 poissons (filet plie, saumon, haddock fumé) et son beurre blanc or 3 Fish sauerkraut with its creamy white wine sauce (Fillet of plaice, salmon and smoked haddock), Crème brûlée traditionnelle or traditional Crème brûlée at menu 39€ With a good Riesling white wine of course ! Great memorable moments and now finally in my blog ! The official Lohkäs : https://en.lohkas.com/ There were two next to each other, the other was the s’Klane Elsass gladly we picked the right one !

The wonderful monument in this area and we love it but sadly only found me one picture of it !! It is the astronomical clock inside. One reason on my list to be back ,eventually, The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg was began, in 1176, with the choir, the transept and the apse in a style that evokes the late Romanesque. The construction of the facade only started in 1276 in a clearly Gothic style with in particular two rectangular towers it was during the 14C that the cathedral will gradually take its final appearance. A belfry is built between the two towers, the whole forming a huge rectangular facade. In 1439, the first tower was completed. 142 meters high, it made the cathedral the highest building of Christianity between 1625 and 1847. The second was never built, even if several architects drew the plans of such a project during the 15C, 17C, and 19C ; mainly because the building, built on unstable soil, was likely to collapse, The cathedral is ; also known for its astronomical clock masterpiece of art and science, its large rosette 12 meters in diameter and its green radius created by the stained glass of Judah which manifests itself in the equinoxes when the sun shines on the city. The cathedral also houses an impressive 24 -meter -high organ buffet. The foundation of the Notre-Dame work has followed and has healed the organ since 1246.

The City of Strasbourg on its heritage : https://int.strasbourg.eu/en/outstanding-sites-and-monuments

The Strasbourg tourist office on its heritage : https://www.visitstrasbourg.fr/en/welcome-in-strasbourg/

The official Christmas time in Strasbourg : https://noel.strasbourg.eu/en/welcome

The Alsace European Community tourist office on Strasbourg : https://www.visit.alsace/en/strasbourg/

There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my belle France, driving all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on curiosities of Strasbourg as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!