10/2/2019 Wednesday Strasbourg, France

10/2/2019. Wednesday  DAY 4 Strasbourg, France Total travel day 37.   Ave. temps.  65 high  48 low  Average chance of rain 29%
Phone says I walked 12,759 steps or 5.6 miles and climbed 3 floors.

• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Accommodations: River Ship

TOUR INFO "We are docking in Strasbourg, France, where you’ll enjoy a walking tour along the city’s famed canals. The capital of Alsace melds the charm of half-timbered houses with the cozy warmth of a Parisian cafe. The result: an extremely inviting and unique city that is equal parts, German and French. Strategically important since ancient times, Strasbourg became a free imperial city of the German Empire in 1262, and then was occupied by France in 1681 and Germany in 1871. France recovered the city in 1919 after World War I. See notable sights (including Vauban Dam, St. Thomas Church, and St. Martin’s Bridge) and admire the city’s remarkable Renaissance architecture.

Your tour concludes in the town center at the magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral. Regarded as one of the finest of Europe’s great Gothic cathedrals, the structure’s lofty single spire dominates the city. You may choose to explore a nearby art gallery or museum during your free time this morning. Or, use your included public transportation pass to venture to other corners of the city on your own before enjoying a tram ride back to your ship.

After lunch, the balance of the day is on your own. Enjoy dinner on board your ship this evening."

My information. The Ill river splits and makes a circle around Strasbourg's mostly pedestrian, historic center.  Strasbourg is the seat of the European Parliament and offers historic, architectural and cultural wonders.  Timbered houses and cobbled streets remind you of villages in Germany.  The atmosphere also has a French influence.  It was a pleasure to stroll the streets.  There are many channels crossed by attractive bridges and also mills and fortifications.  Petite France on the banks of the Ill River on the west end of the town's historic center is picturesque with Renaissance timbered houses decorated with geraniums and shaded by old trees.   Little France was where people with syphilis were isolated in the 16th century so that they could not spread the disease to the rest of the citizens.  It was also where the tanneries were located which meant it was smelly and not a nice section of town. 

The Strasbourg and Alsace area produces both notable wines, beers and Munster cheese. Also, consider trying choucroute (sauerkraut), assorted meats and spicy sausages, served with mounds of pickled cabbage, or kougelhupf (a yeast cake traditionally eaten at breakfast).   The area is noted for white wines.  Look for Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Muscat.  The area is home to Heineken and Kronenbourg beer.  

When we first entered Old Town Strasbourg, there was a large church.  The two wings house separate churches, St. Pierre le Vieux, Catholic and Lutheran.  They do not interact with each other even though they are in the same building.  Strasbourg's cross-timber houses have different designs.  The more intricate designs are impressive and an opportunity to show your neighbors how wealthy you were.  The Ponts Couverts Bridge has three 13th century defensive towers, originally there were covered bridges between the towers.  

Cathedral Notre Dame has Gothic architecture.  AKA Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg. The steeple soars to 466 feet and was the tallest structure built entirely in the Middle Ages.  Built between 1176 and 1439. Parts of it are Romanesque, but it is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture.  The cathedral connects German and French cultural influences. It is the sixth tallest church in the world and the pink sandstone looks different at various times of day.  The exterior of the building has many ornamental features including thousands of Gothic era figures on the West Front.  See statuary and stained-glass windows inside.  Notre Dame's Rose Stained glass window dates back from the 12th and 14th centuries.  At 12:30, the astronomical clock in the south transept activates.  The Apostles appear, a cock crows and beats it wings and the seven ages of man appear.  See the Pillar of the Angels with four evangelists and trumpeting angels, all announcing the Last Judgement.  The church was damaged during the World Wars and the Franco-Prussian War.  

Late morning, it rained heavily.  Luckily, we were heading back to the ship in thirty minutes.  We used the public tram to get to the historic area and had a pass for the day.  I did not return to Old Town on the tram as it continued to shower off and on.  I did go for a walk near the ship when it cleared later.  In the past, this area appears to have been lovely with large single family homes with nice gardens.  The houses still look nice, but I noticed most have two or three mailboxes, now.  Across the river is very industrial and not at all scenic.  There were many houseboats along the water.  We were docked near the French Foreign Legion.  If you are under age 40 you can apply.  Only ten percent of the applicants are accepted.  They are hired mercenaries and will never fight against France or her allies.  

Before we set sail, a local, young man talked about the history of this area.  They were German in the Middle Ages.  In 1861, Louis the XIV came and they were French and Catholicism was introduced.  In 1871, they were German again.  The area spoke Alsatian, with a German dialect, which Germans understand and French do not.  In 1918, they were French again and had to speak French.  From 1940-1944, they were German again and had to speak German.  From 1944 to today, they are French.  The Alsatian dialect is no longer desirable.  One is basically considered similar to a Redneck or a hick if they speak Alsatian now.  The older people that still remember all that the area has been through are passing away and with them goes the Alsatian language.  

 Ponts Couverts Bridge with three 13th century defensive towers.  Originally had covered bridges between the towers.  

The Strasbourg and Alsace area produces both notable wines, beers and Munster cheese. Also, consider choucroute (sauerkraut), assorted meats and spicy sausages,served with mounds of pickled cabbage, or kougelhupf (a yeast cake traditionally eaten at breakfast).   Two affordable restaurants: Le Baeckeoffe d'Alsace $ has a baeckeoffe, a slow-cooked stew of beef, lamb and pork in wine.  14 rue des Moulins    La Table du Gayot $-$$  Bistro-style eatery serving French dishes.  8 place du Marche Gayot  Closed Wednesday.  The area is noted for white wines.  Look for Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Muscat.  The area is home to Heineken and Kronenbourg beer.  

Tourism office is at 17 place de la Cathedrale  Call 03 88 52 28 28  www.otstrasbourg.fr  A tram system has machines located at stops..  Validate the ticket before boarding.

Cathedral Notre Dame has Gothic architecture.  AKA Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg. The steeple soars to 466 feet.  Built between 1176 and 1439. See statuary and stained-glass windows inside.  At 12:30, the astronomical clock in the south transept activates.  The Apostles appear, a cock crows and beats it wings and the seven ages of man appear.  See the Pillar of the Angels with four evangelists and trumpeting angels, all announcing the Last Judgement.  

Many ornamental features. Pink sandstone looks different at various times of day.  The church was damaged during the World Wars and the Franco-Prussian War.  It is the sixth tallest church in the world. 

It rained about 30 minutes before we were to take the tram back to the ship.  Cool downspouts.

The west front is decorated with thousands of Gothic era figures,

Thousands of figures.

In the peak, there is a sundial, but I am not sure what is below the sundial on the right and left.  

Astronomical Clock The church was cleared and a new line formed for the 18 meter astronomical clock which fully operates at 12:30. It is one of the largest in the world.  We were leaving at 12:15.  I saw a minor movement near the top at 11:45. The clock is incredibly intricate.   

Notre Dame's Rose Stained glass window dating back from the 12th and 14th centuries.  

The cross-timber house was an opportunity to show your neighbors how wealthy you were.  This intricate design would have been impressive. 

This building has been a convent, a school, a prison, a hospital and something else.

This building has two wings and two different denominations worship in the building.  They do not interact as a general rule.  

The round frame on the top of this roof is for a stork nest.  It is supposed to be good luck to have a stork’s nest on your house.  I’m not so sure,  the nests can weigh a ton as the storks keep adding to them each year.

We were docked near the French Foreign Legion.  If you are under age 40, you can apply.  Only ten percent of the applicants are accepted.  They are hired mercenaries, but will never fight against France or its allies.  

Late morning, rained heavily.  Luckily, we were heading back to the ship in thirty minutes.  We used the public tram to get to the historic area and had a pass for the day.  I did not return to Old Town on the tram as it continued to shower off and on.  I did go for a walk near the ship when it cleared later.  In the past, this area appears to have been lovely with large single family homes with nice gardens.  The houses still look nice, but I noticed most have two or three mailboxes, now.  Across the river is very industrial and not at all scenic.  There were many houseboats along the water.  


Three main squares are  place Kleber (18th-century is medieval with elegant spaciousness and attractive Renaissance-style), place Gutenberg and place de la Cathedral (cobblestones and medieval timberframe houses) and are all within five minutes of each other.

Ill River Boat Ride  Near the Plais Rohan, buy your ticket for a 70-minute boat tour of Strasbourg.  Hear about the history and important buildings.

Some museums are only open Wed-Mon .