Strasbourg is a historic city in northeast France that is famous for its postcard-perfect views. But what is a must-see? Here are some crucial stops for your itinerary.
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00:00Most cities look great on Instagram the French city of Strasbourg is no
00:04exception but what's it really look like? Time for a reality check. Whether it's
00:11the old town, the Minster or local specialities it all looks so good but is
00:20it really? Strasbourg is in the far east of France on the border with Germany. In
00:25case you're thinking of going there's a whole lot to discover in the city of
00:29300,000. We check out Strasbourg's most popular Instagram motifs for you in real
00:34life. The city's top motif is probably the Cathedral because it only has one
00:43lateral spire it looks slightly asymmetrical. This is due to the
00:47structural design of the building. François Muller is an expert on the
00:53Cathedral built from the 12th to the 15th century. If you visit the Minster
00:57take a close look at the centuries-old lead glass windows. On one side they
01:04depict old kings and emperors. And on the other side there's a sort of comic
01:10strip we call it the Bible of the poor. Many people at the time couldn't read or
01:14write so the Bible was explained to them using pictures like these. We can see
01:19them here and it's fantastic because even today we may not remember
01:22everything that's reported in the Gospels. And these little pictures show
01:27us that with so much charm and beauty. Another highlight the astronomical clock
01:35also hundreds of years old.
01:40It's just so beautiful. If you're in Strasbourg you simply must see this
01:44clock which dates back to the 13th century. The calendar is right at the
01:48bottom and each year it calculates the date of Easter for us. A little further
01:52up a skeleton. That's death striking the hour. And every quarter of an hour he's
01:58passed by an angel of life. Further up Jesus. Every day at 12 midday the 12
02:04apostles pass Jesus and he blesses every one of them. In short even if churches
02:11aren't usually your thing there's plenty of cool stuff here. The La Petite France
02:17neighborhood with its picturesque half-timbered houses is Strasbourg's
02:21second Instagram highlight. Régine Baumgartner knows the district like the
02:26back of her hand. She accompanies us to the Barrage Vauban, a lock bridge from
02:32the 17th century. This viewing terrace has been here since 1966 giving us a
02:41lovely view of the neighborhood and allowing us to imagine how life would
02:45have been here in the past. Nowadays I love the terraces in summer first and
02:49foremost. It's a wonderful place for a walk. You can have picnics here too and
02:54it'll soon be the start of the electric boat season. You can hire them. A must on
03:01any visit to La Petite France a photo on the Pont Couvert or covered bridges.
03:06Although today they're open to the elements. An area that invites you to
03:12meander at leisure. As you do so you're very likely to come across one of the
03:18main landmarks of La Petite France. The Maison de Tanner or Tanner's house. Today
03:23it's home to a restaurant. La Petite France was once a workers district. Now
03:28it's a tourist magnet but there's more to it than that.
03:34The district was included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list in 1988.
03:43This boosted interest in the old timber framed houses and UNESCO also funded
03:49renovation work. There are many stores and restaurants here today but local
03:56people actually live in the upper floors. To sum up La Petite France may be
04:03touristy but it's also very scenic. You may already know about Strasbourg's
04:10final highlight even if you've never been there. Flammkuchen. Flammkuchen is
04:16popular all over the world but this is where it was first made and it's still
04:20baked in wood-fired ovens in restaurants like Le Tigre. The fire gives the
04:27Flammkuchen its smoky taste and the lovely golden crust. If we used a gas or
04:34electric oven it would never turn out so golden. Flammkuchen is made using
04:40thinly rolled out dough. The classic topping is made with sour cream along
04:49with onions and bacon. The Flammkuchen only needs a minute in the oven then
04:56it's ready to be devoured with friends. Everyone helps themselves and there's no
05:01need for cutlery. I love the cream and the bacon and it's a very sociable thing
05:10to do. It's simply a very popular dish in Alsace. It's really convivial with
05:17friends or the family. Simple and nice. Conclusion, a genuine Flammkuchen is a
05:24very good thing but make sure you find a restaurant with a wood-fired oven and if
05:32you're thinking about visiting Strasbourg because the city looks so
05:35good on Instagram then the reality most likely won't fail to disappoint.