Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas, the Capital de Noël.
The Christmas Market in Strasbourg, one of the oldest in France, dates from at least 1570 and is called the "Christkindelsmärik" (Alsatian for "market of the baby Jesus").
Wherever we strolled in Strasbourg, we found market stalls and lights. In the main square of the town, we watched the daily lighting of the very tall Christmas Tree.
The video below shows the tree lighting.
In the main square, there is also an ice rink.
The chalets in the main square are dedicated to charitable organizations raising money for their missions. Below, the Emmaüs chalet was selling Christmas decorations, including figures for nativity scenes. Marie-Chantal found two figures she needed to update her collection.
All over Strasbourg, the streets and buildings were decorated with lights. Even the spire of the cathedral was decorated.
We also toured Strasbourg during the day and saw even more holiday decorations.
We also enjoyed a tasty beverage, hot spiced orange juice, the perfect drink on a cold, rainy day.
In case you want to visit an Alsatian Christmas market in the U.S., you can find one in New York City, at Bowling Green Park in Lower Manhattan. The market is partly sponsored by the towns of Strasbourg and Colmar.
In addition to enjoying the Christmas market in Strasbourg, we also enjoyed the old (and also the modern) architecture of Strasbourg. Below, an example of the modern style is seen at the 19th century train station, completely updated with a futuristic glass pavilion.
As for older architecture, the Palais Rohan, conpleted in 1742, was the large and luxurious palace of the Prince Bishop of Strasbourg. Today, the palace is home to three museums, including a fine arts museum that we visited.
Another even older building is the Kammerzellhüs (Alsatian for "Kammerzell House"), built in 1427. Located in the center of Strasbourg, the exterior of the Kammerzellhüs is ornately decorated.
Strasbourg is located along the river Ill. We enjoyed a river cruise to see more sights of the city.
Strasbourg is home to some very large swans. They seemed oblivious to the bitter cold rain.
The European Parliament (pictured below) is located in Strasbourg, which is situated near the French-German border. The parliament's location is a symbol of unification of France and Germany following WWII. It is, obviously, another example of modern architecture in the city.
Strasbourg is also home to France's Ecole National d'Administration. The exclusive school is a post-graduate training institution for future government leaders. The best students are practically assured high-level positions in the future. Graduates include four French Presidents, including the current one, Emmanuel Macron.
The institution is located in a group of buildings started in the 1300's, which once served as a lay monastery, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Later in time, the site served as a hospital for syphilitic French soldiers and subsequently as a prison until it was truly transformed just a few decades ago, becoming an elite training ground for France's leaders.
Nearby, we visited the Barrage Vauban, a sort of covered bridge across the river. The barrage is actually a fortress constructed by the French army in the late 1600's to defend the southern approach to Strasbourg.
What is unique about the barrage is its capacity to lower gates that block the river flow and flood the plain south of the city, impeding any attacking army. A replica water gate is pictured below.
The top of the building affords a panoramic view of Strasbourg, including nearby medieval defensive towers and the cathedral in the distance.
Next Up: The Strasbourg Cathedral
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