Marvelous Strasbourg

Strasbourg is an old French town located on the banks of the Ill river and listed as World heritage by UNESCO alongside with Prague and Venice.

The Square around the Cathedral Strasbourg, called the Place de la Cathedrale, is famous for the renowned Maison Kammerzell, the largest and most beautiful building of the town. Its frontage with 75 windows is decorated with figures of Biblical and mythic personalities and signs of zodiac.

Described by Victor Hugo as a "gigantic and delicate marvel", Strasbourg Cathedral is a fine example of late Gothic architecture. It was erected on the base of a Roman temple that was destroyed by fire. 4 centuries elapsed since the moment when a foundation of the Cathedral was laid in 1176 till completion of construction works in 1439.

The rosace with 16 leafs is like a magnificent semiprecious stone in a ring.

The astronomical clock is 18 meters high. Its construction was completed in 1571 by Conrad Dasypodius. The clock stopped at the time of the Great French Revolution and resumed in 1842 supplemented with the church calender and Copernican planetarium.

The view from the observation point inspired Goete to write his novels.

The Grand Ile is the sight of four centuries old churches such as St. Thomas; St. Pierre-le-Vieux; St. Pierre-le-Jeune; St. Etienne.

Once having been the world's tallest building, the Strasbourg Cathedral remains today as the sixth highest church.

Let's have a walk through the Cathedral, visit its wonderful cafes and meet local people.

The person is taking pictures of the Cathedral.

You are welcome to hire a segway and participate in a marvelous excursion.

Local dogs look nice.

Musical event in front of the Cathedral.

Place Kleber is the central square in Strasbourg with the statute of general Jean-Baptiste Kléber.

He was one of the most successful French generals of the Revolutionary Wars, but was also known for resenting his superiors and being reluctant to command.

Napoleon once said there was no sight so splendid as watching Kléber go into battle, and likened him to the god of war, Mars.

During the Middle Ages the most part of the place Kleber was occupied by a high church. In the 18th century the square turned into a parade-ground.

Don't forget to buy a book when you are at the Kleber square.

Parking area.

The Lafayette Gallery offers a wide selection of bright paintings, shining pottery, and sparkling jewelry. Invited local artists show their work in the gallery parking lot once a month throughout the summer. 

Iron Man Square in Strasbourg. 

The square is right at the corner of the place Kleber. It could never boast of individuality until the reconstruction that took place in connection with the tram-line startup.

Its wide glass rotunda which serves as a tram parking lot made the place recognizable.

Long time ago horse racing took place on Broya Square. In 1730 the Square was reconstructed into a boulevard where beautifully dressed ladies and cavaliers participated in the promenade.

The first theater was destroyed by fire in 1800. That's what the modern building looks like.

The Republic Square resembles a park.

One of the main squares is named for Johannes Gutenberg who lived in Strasbourg from 1430-1444 and invented the movable-type printing press. His statue in the square holds a page with French words for "let there be light." As a result of Gutenberg's revolutionary technology, Strasbourg developed into the most active early center for printing.

St. Paul's Church on the island of Saint Helena was built between 1889 and 1892 by the architect Louis Muller. Initially it was used as the protestant garrison church for the German army.

The University of Strasbourg is the largest university in France built in 1884.

In 2009 the universities Louis Pasteur, Marc Bloch and Robert Schuman were fused into one and new University of Strasbourg which covers all the fields of higher education.

It is also the largest university in France counting more than 100 buildings and 80 hectares of land.

The street with plenty of cafes leads to the Market of the Suckling Pig.

St. Etienne Square is usually occupied by students. Many of them enter the building of the Renaissance style which embraces the club of Catholic students.

In Strasbourg there is an incredibly beautiful place called Petite France. Petite-France is located on the Main Island or Grand Island ("Grande Ile"), which stands to the left side of the Rhine, on the Ill River in Alsace. The popular corner of the Main Island is where the Île river splits up into a number of canals, and cascades through a small area of half-timbered houses. Here the city's millers, tanners and fishermen used to live.

The district was actually famous for a hospital where syphilis nicknamed the "French disease" was treated in the end of the 16th century. The hospital is not there anymore but its name remains.

The names of the streets are very poetic. Thus, there is Lace Street, Gold Street, Blue-Cloud Street, etc.

The massive towers formed a part of ancient fortifications. There were 24 of them. The symbols of independence erected in 1230-1250 embraced prisoners for quite a long time.

Towers and footbridges situated at the end of 'Petite France' are the Ponts-Couverts, one of the most famous tourist attractions in all of Strasbourg. Comprising three 13th-century towers, these ancient fortified remains owe their name to the series of roofed, wooden footbridges.

Enjoying the journey by a water bus.

The whole area is picture-postcard pretty. Its streets are bordered by sixteenth- and seventeenth-century houses adorned with flowers.

Wearing a hat is a must as the sun beats down mercilessly.

They are greeting the water bus.

When a water bus passes by the bridges are taken away.

Enjoying the view of the Petite France from the windows of the tiny hotel.

The European Area embraces the EU administrative organs such as European Parliament, Palace of Human Rights, etc.The first elections to the Parliament took place in 1979 when the Europeans who were separated during and after the Second World War elected the members of a single parliament. The European Parliament is elected every 5 years and passes the majority of the European laws.

Having a meal at a nice local restaurant.

A bar counter on the window sill seems to be a right decision.

Modern houses don't spoil the view at all.

Indicators.

Russians in the city.