1. Strasbourg Cathedral — The Pink Giant

Strasbourg Cathedral is one of the greatest achievements of Gothic architecture. Built in pinkish-red Vosges sandstone, its single spire reaches 142 metres — making it the tallest building in the world from 1647 to 1874. Victor Hugo called it “a gigantic and delicate marvel.” The 14th-century astronomical clock inside is a masterpiece of medieval engineering. The cathedral’s west facade is so intricately carved that it’s best viewed through binoculars.

Location: Place de la Cathédrale, central Strasbourg.

Highlights:

• The astronomical clock (daily show at 12:30 PM) — animated figures including the four ages of life
• The platform climb (330 steps) — panoramic views over the city and the Vosges mountains
• The rose window — 12th-century stained glass with astonishing detail
• The pillar of angels — a sculptural masterpiece from 1220 in the south transept
• The cathedral illuminated at night — a breathtaking golden beacon over the city

2. The Alsace Wine Route — 170 km of Heaven

The Route des Vins d’Alsace is one of the oldest and most beautiful wine routes in France — 170 km of vineyard-lined roads through the foothills of the Vosges, connecting 67 wine-producing villages. The wines are named after the grape: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Pinot Noir. Each village on the route has its own character, and most have domaines that welcome visitors for tastings.

Best villages on the route (south to north):

• Thann — the southern gateway, with a beautiful Gothic church
• Riquewihr — perhaps the most beautiful village in all of Alsace, a must-visit
• Eguisheim — a perfectly circular medieval village, one of France’s favourites
• Kaysersberg — a charming town on the wine route with a castle and river
• Colmar — the “Little Venice” of Alsace, a city of flower-bedecked canals

3. Colmar — Little Venice & Fairytale Streets

Colmar is the Alsace fantasy made real. The old town is a perfectly preserved collection of half-timbered houses in every colour — pink, blue, yellow, green — with flower boxes spilling from every window, canals crossed by footbridges, and quiet courtyards hidden behind archways. The Unterlinden Museum, housed in a 13th-century convent, contains the Issenheim Altarpiece — one of the most powerful works of Renaissance art in existence.

Location: 70 km south of Strasbourg, 1 hour by train.

Highlights:

• Little Venice (Petite Venise) — the canalside quarter, most beautiful from Rue de la Herse
• Maison des Têtes — a 17th-century house with 106 carved heads and masks on its facade
• Unterlinden Museum — the Issenheim Altarpiece alone is worth the trip
• Marché aux Fruits — the daily market on Place de l’Ancienne Douane
• Maison Pfister — one of the most photographed buildings in Colmar (1537)

4. The European Quarter — Strasbourg’s Modern Face

Alongside its medieval charm, Strasbourg hosts the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Council of Europe — making it one of the most important political centres in the world. The European Quarter is a striking ensemble of modern architecture along the Ill River. You can visit the European Parliament (free tours available), sit in on a session if it’s in progress, and see the functioning heart of European democracy.

Location: Northeast of Strasbourg’s old town, along the Ill River.

Highlights:

• European Parliament — guided tours available (free, but book in advance)
• Palais de l’Europe — the striking Council of Europe building (guided tours available)
• The Court of Human Rights — distinctive modernist architecture
• The Orangerie Park — beautiful parkland between the Parliament and the old town
• The Rhine Bridge — walk across the border to Kehl, Germany

5. The Northern Vosges — Castles & Forests

The Northern Vosges Regional Park is a land of deep forests, sandstone cliffs, and ruined medieval castles. The “Route des Châteaux Forts” connects over 20 castles built between the 11th and 15th centuries. The most spectacular is Hohbarr (or Haut-Barr), known as the “Eye of Alsace” for the view from its keep, overlooking the entire Alsace plain.

Highlights:

• Château du Haut-Barr — the “Eye of Alsace” with a 360-degree panoramic view
• Château de Fleckenstein — built into a sandstone cliff face
• Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg — the most famous Alsatian castle, fully restored and stunning
• La Petite Pierre — a charming fortified village with a castle and wine cellars
• Hiking the GR53 through the Vosges forests — well-marked trails through gorgeous landscapes

6. Alsatian Cuisine — Baeckeoffe, Choucroute & Tarte Flambée

Alsatian food is the cosiest cuisine in France — hearty, warming, and built around the region’s wines. Baeckeoffe is a slow-cooked casserole of three meats and potatoes marinated in Riesling. Choucroute garnie is sauerkraut topped with sausages, pork belly, and potatoes. Tarte flambée (Flammekueche) is a thin, crispy bread topped with cream, onions, and bacon — the pizza of Alsace. And the wines — Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris — are world-class.

Where to eat:

• Winstubs (Alsatian wine bars) — the most authentic places for local cuisine
• Chez Yvonne (Strasbourg) — one of the best-known winstubs, classic Alsatian fare
• La Maison des Tanneurs (Strasbourg) — tarte flambée in a 16th-century tanners’ house
• Le Crocodile (Strasbourg) — Michelin-starred, for a splurge
• Boulangerie patisseries — try kougelhopf, a yeasted cake with raisins and almonds