Visiting and Discovering Strasbourg
I chose the Hotel Pax strictly for its location, only a three-minute walk from the Strasbourg train station. It was a very unprepossessing hotel, old and nothing to write home about with the exceptiion of its very friendly staff and a great location. Too bad I didn't follow my own advice and check where our Hotel Pax room was located before evening. We fronted the street and the trams, bells clanging, didn't stop running until 12:30 am (according to ex-Marine). I stuffed ear plugs in my ears and we changed rooms the next day. The hotel was sold out and it was too late to change rooms before the noise-level dawned on me.
Strasbourg would be our last medieval city for many years to come and I was interested to see if it would measure up to my personal favorites up to now - Colmar and Riquewihr - both the ultimate in my book. Out to discover Strasbourg, the first thing I noticed was the city's excellent tram system with boards above each stop telling exactly how long until the next tram arrived. The two trams lines criss-cross the city and I just don't understand why our public transportation systems can't look like these.
The second thing I noticed were all the bicycle lanes on every street. There are over 400 kms of bicycle trails through town and around Strasbourg with ample bicycle rental places. Again...why don't we have that?
On the receptionist's recommendation, we headed for Petit France the most important sight (not including the Cathedral). Petit France, an area once inhabited by tanners and millers, was a three-block walk from Hotel Pax. This area had Le Barrage Vauban (Vauban Dam), built after Strasbourg became French in 1681 to reinforce the medieval fortifications. There are 13 arcades and the floodgates could be closed under each one to flood the southern front of the city and keep it safe from attack. Another level was added to it in the 19th century.
Petit France also had the so-called "covered bridges." The roofs disappeared in the 18th century but the bridges are overlooked by four 14th century towers and the remains of Strasbourg's old city walls. Again, the houses of the tanners had open galleries where the skins were hung to dry after they were scrubbed and prepared in the canal water.
From Petit France, we headed down Quai Finkwiller, past many more ancient houses and St. Thomas Church built between the 12-15th century, Lutheran since 1549 with the ultimate destination, Strasbourg's famous Cathedral...
...but first passing stores selling food! Yummy cookies..."...would Madame care for a sample?"...of course....Chocolate covered almonds in every hue that looked like olives..."...would Monsieur care to try?"... of course...
...then a charcuterie (like a deli)..."...care for un petit sample?" Do bears *#*! in the woods? Of course... Eventually, we would get to the Cathedral...but we have no will-power...
