Everything You Need to Know About Strasbourg

The Alsatian city of Strasbourg – whose name literally means ‘town at the crossing of roads’ – lies at a fascinating juncture between old and new, German and French. It is of course famous for its colossal Gothic cathedral, but also as the seat of the European Parliament, while its half-timbered German merchant dwellings sit next to elegant French townhouses.

During your escorted tour of this wonderful city on your Alsace cruise aboard Panache along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin in Alsace, you will see marvellous sights, taste delicious food and wine, and visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. La Petite France

Just a short walk from the cathedral is La Petite France, the home of artisanal trade in medieval Strasbourg. This maze of narrow streets and canals is full of picturesque half-timbered houses blooming with flowers in the summer months. It’s a lovely place to do some boutique shopping, have a cup of coffee, or just relax in one of the waterside parks.

During your escorted tour of this wonderful city on your Alsace cruise aboard Panache along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin in Alsace, you will see marvellous sights, taste delicious food and wine, and visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3. The Grande Ile

The Grande Ile is home to Strasbourg’s city centre and has even been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions and is the ideal spot to truly immerse yourself in the municipality’s history.

During your escorted tour of this wonderful city on your Alsace cruise aboard Panache along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin in Alsace, you will see marvellous sights, taste delicious food and wine, and visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

4. Alsace Wine Route

Though the Route des Vins d’Alsace, or Alsace Wine Route, is 170 kilometres, you can do a portion of it on a day trip. It begins right near Strasbourg and carries on through towns such as Bergheim, Riquewhir and Colmar. No matter how far you decide to travel down this route, one thing is for certain: you’ll sample some of France’s best wines this way.

5. Place Gutenberg

It was in the city of Strasbourg in the 15th century that Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press, first experimented with moveable type. His revolutionary ideas, which hugely cut down the time it took to reproduce a text compared with labour-intensive scribal reproduction, made a real contribution to the rise in literacy at the end of the medieval period in Europe.

You can see a bronze statue of Johannes Gutenberg in the appropriately named Place Gutenberg and perhaps as you read your guidebook, you can send a silent thank you to the father of printing!

A Spotlight on the Cuisine of Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a highlight of any French barge cruise, that takes in the stunning, and often overlooked, regions of Alsace and Lorraine. Sitting at the crossroads of western and central Europe, this city is bursting with a rich and intricate history, is home to an incredible array of architecture, and is proud of its strong cultural traditions.

Choucroute

This delicious vegetable dish is really just cabbage and is very similar to sauerkraut, but it is elevated to new levels when prepared the Alsatian way. To make the deluxe version, the cabbage is pickled in wine and then stewed with fortifying vegetables and smoked meats. As the stew breaks down the flavours melt into one another, creating the most divine culinary sensation.

Coq au Riesling

A take on the Burgundian classic, this version is much lighter and made with the local sour white wine, which provides a tangy finish to the sauce. Often presented with boiled potatoes and a simple salad, this is a lighter meal than most local dishes.

Tarte à L’Oignon

A very versatile offering, this tasty tart can be eaten hot or cold and is often enjoyed as a snack. Pastry and onions that have been caramelised to perfection are the simple ingredients that make this delicious treat sing. The tart is much loved by the locals and served in every winstub (wine bar) in the city.

Baeckeoffe

One for the bigger appetites, this casserole takes its name from the local term for ‘baker’s oven’, which was the vessel in which the dish was once cooked. In times gone by, people would collect all their meat scraps and vegetables and pop them into a big pot that they then took to a baker, who would cook it in the oven overnight and have it ready the next day.

Tourte

Another pie-style dish once made to feed the farmers grafting in the Alsatian countryside is a rich filling offering made with Riesling-marinated meat. You can grab a slice at any respectable Strasbourg bakery.

Flammekueche

Make sure you sample flammekueche (literally ‘flame pastry’), a dish that is one of the most popular specialities of the Alsace region. It comprises bread dough rolled into the shape of an oval or rectangle and then smothered in lardons, crème fraiche or fromage blanc and sliced onions.

Cruise the Rivers of Strasbourg Aboard the Panache

Whether you’re interested in city centres or wine tours, Strasbourg has something for everyone. There is so much to see and do in Strasbourg aboard Panache.

Panache is a hotel barge that has been fitted out in traditional yacht style with brass and mahogany fittings in spacious public areas and very comfortable cabin accommodations. In the saloon, the picture windows let in plenty of natural light, and the tempting cocktail bar and comfortable leather sofas are enhanced by polished hardwood flooring. The separate roomy dining area provides a congenial setting for up to 12 guests to enjoy the gourmet meals and fine wines served on board.

Panache’s voyage through Alsace & Lorraine will give you the opportunity to appreciate the very best of the region, passing storybook villages along the way, visiting places such as Strasbourg, renowned for its Baroque and Romanesque architecture and uniquely, experiencing Europe’s most famous boat elevator!

She also offers a handful of festive Christmas Market Cruises in Alsace between November and December, offering visits to the traditional Strasbourg, Riquewihr, and Colmar Christmas markets.

Join us on our classic cruise and experience it for yourself – European Waterways style. To find out more about our 6-night all-inclusive luxury barge cruises in Alsace and Lorraine, contact us today.