by Joel Thornton

Created on: February 02, 2009   Last Updated: February 09, 2009

This city is one of the forgotten jewels of Western Europe. Strasbourg is off the beaten tourist path, but it is worth the trip off the path. Located on the Rhine River, just across from Germany, Strasbourg bears the marks of the best of both German and French culture. It is big enough to have everything you might need, but small enough that you can manage it on foot of course, you will want to use the tram system that gives you access to everything from the outskirts of town to the European Parliament and the center of town.

Whether walking or riding, take the time to admire the architecture. All around you is the wooden stucco style that most Americans associate with Europe in the Middle Ages. It is breathtaking here and it is everywhere.

You have to start your visit at the Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of the old town. It is easy to find as it stands above everything like the beckon it was to the medieval Christian. Like most French churches this one is built with the same design as its more famous sister in Paris. The difference is Strasbourg's Notre Dame has one spire reaching to the sky.

The original design of Notre Dame in Paris included twin spires reaching toward heaven. They were never added due to financial considerations. In Strasbourg the first one was added. Before the second one could be added the engineers decided that the stress of the second spire could bring the entire Cathedral to the ground and they left it off. Now, Strasbourg's Notre Dame is considered the lopsided lady of Strasbourg.

The open square in front of the Cathedral has tourist shops and restaurants that offer outdoor seating in good weather. This is the best place to experience Strasbourg, sit at a table in the shadow of the Cathedral, and have a glass of the local wine or the local beer while you watch the locals wonder through town.

Inside the Cathedral is an Astrological Clock that is worth the time to roam to the building. While inside look up and through the stained glass windows, these are some of the oldest surviving stained glass windows in all of Europe.

When you are facing the Cathedral to the left is the tourist information center. There you will find maps of the city showing walking tours and the highlights of the city. To the right is an ancient narrow way that leads down to the Ill River whose canals cut around Strasbourg leaving the old town on an island. There you will find river boats that give a complete tour of the city from the water.

From here you will

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