Strasbourg between Grande-Île, museums and Petite France

Strasbourg offers different starting points for planning a stay: the historic centre of Grande-Île, the waterways and half-timbered houses of Petite France, museums focusing on natural history and the city’s history, and the gardens and leisure facilities of Parc de l’Orangerie. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can start by choosing your destination based on the things you’re most interested in seeing while you’re there.

Historic centre and Petite France

Grande-Île, the historic centre of Strasbourg, is centred around the cathedral. It was first inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. In Petite France, you can see how waterways were connected to traditional occupations: the neighbourhood grew up around the Ill River and four canals because tanners, millers and fishermen needed plenty of water for their work.

Petite France preserves a well-maintained group of half-timbered houses. These include tanners’ houses with open roofs, which were used to dry hides. You can explore the neighbourhood on foot or by boat. Boat trips offer panoramic views and pass through a lock and under a swing bridge. This gives you a choice of different perspectives on the same place: exploring on foot or taking in the view from the water.

Museums: natural history and the history of the city

The Musée Zoologique has offered an overview of global biodiversity since the late 18th century and preserves more than 1.2 million specimens. A visit features 1,800 specimens, including historic items and species that have not previously been on display. The exhibits on the tour may be revised; if certain specimens are important to you, check the current tour before your visit.

The Musée Historique offers a different focus: its audio guide takes visitors through the main periods of Strasbourg’s history in French, English and German. If the audio guide’s language is important to your plans, check what is available again before your visit, as museum services can change.

Gardens, leisure facilities and cycling network

Parc de l’Orangerie combines a romantic English-style garden landscape with winding paths, bodies of water, bridges, fountains and half-timbered buildings. It also offers play areas, a children’s driving course, boat trips on the lake, a zoo and a mini-farm. You can enjoy the park in different ways: by taking in the garden and its design, or by visiting one of its specific attractions. Individual facilities may change; if a particular offering is important to your visit, check that it is currently available.

For getting around by bicycle, the Vélostras network offers two different types of route: radial routes connect Strasbourg city centre with municipalities in the Eurométropole; a pedestrian and cycling ring runs around Grande-Île. The network may evolve as projects are completed. If you plan to use a particular connection, check its current route before setting off.

Whether you’re interested in historic architecture, natural history collections, the city’s history, park facilities or cycle routes, these points of interest provide a starting point for planning your stay in Strasbourg around your own plans and finding a suitable hotel.

Discover more destinations: Eschau, Baldenheim, Saales, Niederhaslach, Schœnau, Epfig, Lalaye, Wimmenau.

See the regional travel overview: Bas-Rhin.