In which quarter house in Strasbourg?

The charms of Alsace for the holidays? Here is a mini-guide of the best areas to stay in Strasbourg, for a successful stay!

Town bordering with Germany to the rich historical heritage, Strasbourg is the seventh city of France, with 768,868 inhabitants. Staying in Strasbourg will not be difficult because the supply of accommodation and hotels is growing. A large student city, it is the emblem of Franco-German reconciliation and is at the crossroads between two cultural, Latin and Germanic spaces. It is now home to major European institutions (Council of Europe, European Course on Human Rights, European Parliament), which is worth the sobriquet of “the parliamentary capital of Europe”. Its city centre – the Grande Île, with the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg and the Petite France district – is listed on the UNESCO Heritage List: not to be missed!

The city literally built on a gold mine: a 35 billion m pond 3 drinking water, which makes it one of Europe’s largest drinking water reserves. Among the many neighborhoods of the city are the district of the train station with its famous Christmas market, Kléber-cathédrale, Petite France, Krutenau and the institutional district of the European Union.

La Grande Île de Strasbourg

To stay in Strasbourg, the ideal is to stay in the perimeter of this large island located in the city centre. This is where a plurality of historical monuments is concentrated, some of which date back to Roman times, including the Roman camp of Argentorum. Your visit must inevitably pass through the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg, Place Kléber, Place du Marché Gayot and the famous Christmas market on Place Broglie, one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, named “Christkindelsmärik”, which means the “Jesus market”. And yes, the Christian tradition is very anchored in Alsace. This market has existed since 1570, and begins every year, on the first Saturday of Advent until December 24. It has been exported to many major cities in the world such as Tokyo, Taipei, Moscow, Beijing. There are many shaded houses, covered bridges, special Renaissance hotels, most shops and restaurants in the city centre. As it is the city’s most touristic district, the offer of accommodation – apartments, hotels, hostels – is therefore there.

La Petite France

It is the picturesque Strasbourg: to stay in Strasbourg, the Petite France, located on the banks of the Ill River, is a good compromise because it is historical and it allows to find accommodation where to sleep at affordable prices, close to the city centre, very frequented. It is the old quarter where fishermen, millers and tanners cohabited in the typical Alsatian dove houses. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Petite France district guarantees a charming, romantic or memorable family stay, and its accommodation infrastructure is also varied. Choose to book a accommodation for a few nights because this neighborhood is really worth a visit.

Krutenau

The area adjacent to Petite France and adjacent to the University of Strasbourg is the bobo district of Strasbourg. There are many restaurants and bars, from gastronomic cuisine to Mediterranean restaurants (libaese, Italian, Iberian), and many “lounge” bars, design and classes. It is a festive, young, living, but – gentrification obliges – a little more expensive. It is an ideal area where to stay in Strasbourg if you want to party and meet with the world, especially as you can discriminate between a wide range of accommodation solutions.

The European Quarter

If you are fascinated by European institutions, if you hope to see a minister from one of the 27 member countries of the European Union or are on a business trip, opt for this neighbourhood. It gathers on horseback in the districts of Orangerie, Robertsau and Contades, in the northeast of the city centre, about 20 European institutions, which makes the city claim the status of European Capital, or parliamentary capital and citizen of Europe. There are many luxury hotels with luxurious rooms and suites. However, do not miss the large Orangerie Park to stroll during the beautiful days. Rent an apartment or a hotel room in this neighborhood? It'll be expensive!

Main photo credit: Flickr – Robert GLOD