Strasbourg in the Alsace

Rue Mercière, rue du Dôme, rue des Orfèvres, rue des Hallebardes, rue des Tonneliers, rue des Dentelles... lose yourself in these narrow little streets crammed full with beautiful half-timbered houses.

The Maison Kammerzell , Place de la Cathédrale, is a masterpiece of Renaissance wood-sculpture. Opposite sits Notre-Dame, a fine example of Gothic architecture, its façade unfolding like a book of pink sandstone images to which hundreds of sculptures have been attached. Inside, watch the Apostles of the Astronomical Clock file past at 12.30 pm then climb the 332 steps for a magnificent view over Strasbourg's sloping roofs.

Still not tired? The splendour of the neighbouring Palais Rohan, with its decorative art and fine art collections, is sure to delight keen art lovers!

The Grande Île, the city's Unesco World Heritage historic centre, is surrounded by the green waters of the River Ill. Visit by boat from the Palais Rohan jetty.

Petite France: Strasbourg at its most engaging. One time home to the tanners of Strasbourg, its canals are bordered by half-timbered houses, mills and willow trees. Points of interest include its 13th century covered bridges, the Vauban Dam, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Quai Saint-Thomas where the church houses the Mausoleum of the Marshall of Saxony. The circuit includes the 19th century German quarter and the European Quarter with the modern architecture of the Parliament, the Council of Europe and the Court of Human Rights.

We can't stress it enough, Strasbourg is best visited on foot, your eyes peeled to the sky. The Tourist Office's mini guide book, Balades Strasbourgeoises, will take you on a tour punctuated by the beautiful churches, old houses and romantic alleyways of the ""Grande île"", surrounded by the River Ill and its canal.

Highlights include the mansion houses on the rue des Serruriers, the rue du Bain aux Plantes and the covered bridges.

Strasbourg's European quarter unveils some magnificent examples of contemporary architecture. The Palace of Europe, headquarters for the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, shaped like a developing pyramid.

The immense glass façade of the European parliament which follows the course of the river and the Court of Human Rights with its high-tech cylinder-shaped entrance hall…

To shop where the locals shop or enjoy a drink in their favourite haunt, head to Place Kléber. Share a convivial moment in one of the city's many traditional taverns, or winstubs, and enjoy some delicious Alsace specialities such as choucroute [sauerkraut], baeckeoffe [meat and potato stew], tarte flambée [cheese, onion and ham tart] or spaetzle [dumplings] (Chez Yvonne, 10 bis, rue des Orfèvres).

Thirsty? Indulge in a lovely chilled lager at the Kronenbourg Museum, unless of course you'd prefer to take a stroll along the romantic pathways of the Parc de l’Orangerie. At night, the Krutenau quarter is where it's all happening.

Tip: September shivers guaranteed at the European Fantasy Film Festival with screenings, the fantasy village and the Zombies Ball!

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