Strasbourg

Strasbourg, the grande dame of the region and one of France’s most beautiful cities, is just a short distance northeast of Obernai on the border with Germany. Although, personally, I usually avoid large cities, Strasbourg is gorgeous and well worth the effort to navigate its miles of urban surround to penetrate its old quarter. Begin armed with a good map and take the time to chart a route before you begin the journey. Set on the banks of the River Rhine where it meets the Ill, Strasbourg’s city center is full of charm. The old quarter is an island banded by the River Ill, with the Place Kléber and the lacy pink-sandstone Nôtre Dame Cathedral at its core. It is filled with interesting little streets of shops, restaurants, and hotels and leads to the footbridges that span the River Ill. The nearby Petite France quarter, where craftsmen plied their trades in the 16th and 17th centuries, is full of old timbered houses, most notably the fine Maison des Tanneurs with its intricate wooden galleries. Many of the craftsmen’s old workshops are now delightful restaurants.