The Strasbourg Cathedral and Other Sights
We finally made our way to the heart of Strasbourg and it's famous Cathedral. Over 466 feet high to the top of the spire, and completed in 1439. ...View image...The remainder of the cathedral was built between the 11-15th century and was the highest in Western Europe until the 19th century. You can't visit during Sunday services. Inside is an astronomical clock. For 1 Euro, you can watch the parade of the apostles before Christ every day at 12:30 pm. Buy a ticket at the door. You can also buy a ticket to take the long walk to the top platform, 332 steps up. The facade is magnificent with its lace-like work in stone. Of importance are the Wise and Foolish Virgins on the right portal. It was simple telling who the Foolish Virgin was but the others didn't look THAT wise.
The interior has an exceptional collection of stained glass windows with the oldest ones on the north side depicting princes and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Place de la Cathedrale was standing room only with tourists, mimes, ...View image...shops selling souvenirs (each one had exactly the same items for sale)....
...not too far away from this square was a McDonald's, packed to the brim with locals... We always check out McDonald's prices in other countries to see the differences. In France? A Big Mac meal, 6 Euros/$10 U.S. (No 2 for 1's here...) Also, I don't care what your opinion of McDonald's (or me) is...I love them and they are a big junk food treat for us. When you need a hamburger fix anywhere in the world, McDonald's can be counted on. There will be no "unknown meats" mixed in and it is prepared under sanitary conditions.
Kept on the move. There was still a lot to see and I was becoming seriously concerned that the two days allotted in Strasbourg would not be enough. Approaching the Kammerzell House from the Square, we instantly knew that this was a house of importantance...how could you not... and the photos probably don't do it justice.
La Maison Kammerzell (The Kammerzell House) next to the tourist office is considered to be the most beautiful house in Strasbourg. It was built and owned by rich merchants starting with Martin Braun (cheese merchant) and Philippe Kammerzell (a grocer) was the owner in the 19th century. The ground floor (15th century) is composed of stone arcades under which goods were sold. The richly carved half-timbering of the upper levels dates from 1589. ...View image...and, the very nice restaurant people in Maison Kammerzell actually let us use their bathrooms. This is a real problem when sightseeing because two other restaurants/hotels had already turned us down and it was a long way to the Public Toilets.
Still moving as quickly as possible...through Gutenberg Square ...View image...named after Johann Gutenberg who exiled himself to Strasbourg from Mainz for political reasons where he lived between 1424-1444 (or about). Gutenberg worked here developing his famous invention, the printing press. There was a carousel from 1900 in the middle of the square with families enjoying it on this rather cool day...
One last pastry shop with "Sponge Bob" in Marzipan. This...took the cake (ha ha) for creativity and completely demonstrated the universality of the world. We are in France and the bakers are selling pastry depictions of "Sponge Bob." Hysterical?
Okay...we're very hungry now...and on the hunt for another early dinner. Right off Cathedrale Square, Le Gruber...a deliightfully kitschy Alsatian restaurant with multiple floors and nightly entertainment...for tarte flambee (finally). It really does taste like a pizza minus tomato sauce. Very delicious and armed with some caramel almond squares from a patisserie (so delicious we ate them on the spot and went back for more), this was wonderful, nutritionally unbalanced dinner.
