Photos taken/written by Jennifer Mahon
EUROPE ROAD TRIP — DAY 1 (OF 19)
Our adventure kicks off! We flew into the Basel/Mulhouse airport (Air Transat direct from Montreal—yes, please!) and jumped in the car to head north to Strasbourg. Things were going smoothly… until my hubby dropped the GPS. Suddenly, the GPS thought we were cruising through a vineyard. Not the worst idea, actually. Note to self: plan a vineyard stop tomorrow.
But for today? I was cursing like a sailor because it’s Day 1 of our 19-day driving trip and the GPS is already on strike. Not a good start. Thank goodness for my iPhone and that international data plan, because without it, we would’ve been lost for the rest of eternity. We finally made it to our hotel, which (fun surprise) was smack in the middle of a pedestrian zone. Fun times navigating that, and let’s not even talk about the parking garage—one of the darkest parking garages and narrowest parking spots I’ve ever been in.
STRASBOURG
Strasbourg sits on the border of France and Germany, and for a hot second, I had to stop and wonder which country we were actually in. Almost all of the signs are in both French and German - kind of reminded me a bit of Montreal……on second thought, scratch that, Montreal signage is pretty much français seulement. Back to Strasbourg. The city has changed hands for centuries between France and Germany and the result is this beautiful city in the middle of the River Ill, where you can leisurely stroll the narrow, winding streets and admire the beautiful German and French architecture.
Photos: Our hotel in the Old Town: Hotel Rohan which was right beside Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
YOU'VE GOTTA SEE...
VIEILLE VILLE (OLD TOWN)
We stayed in Vieille Ville at the Hôtel Rohan, which could not have been in a better location. I kid you not—it’s a 30-second walk to the jaw-droppingly impressive Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg. Out of all the Notre-Dame cathedrals, this one wins in my book. This gothic-style cathedral with a pink sandstone façade, sits in the middle of a busy square surrounded with museums, restaurants, cafes and shops. At 10:15 pm and 10:30 pm, don’t miss the free “And Then There Was Light” animated light show on the cathedral’s façade—don’t miss it!
Photos: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
LA PETITE-FRANCE
Next, we wandered southwest to check out La Petite-France to see if it lived up to the hype. Spoiler alert: It does. Think half-timbered houses, narrow streets, cute little bridges, and canals, all accented with vibrant flower boxes. I had to physically restrain myself from breaking into a full-on Disney princess song. It’s one of the most fairy-tale-like spots I’ve ever seen and easily one of the prettiest in Europe.
Photos: La Petite-France
LA CAVE HISTORIQUE DES HOSPICES DE STRASBOURG
As an Anglo doing a literal translation, this made absolutely no sense to me. A historic cave in a Strasbourg hospital? Um, what? It’s pretty much exactly that, but better. It’s a wine cellar, created in 1395 underneath the ancient Strasbourg hospital. Free to get into, if you can find the entrance! Thanks to the trusty internet and a TripAdvisor review, we were able to find it (you need to go under the clock tower, then right at the black iron gates……then you’ll see a sign for it).
Photos: La cave historique des hospices de Strasbourg
YOU'VE GOTTA EAT...
Strasbourg’s food and drink scene is a delightful mix of French and German influences, and there’s no better place to experience it than a Winstub (aka a wine lounge). Here’s a quick rundown of what you can’t miss:
Wines: are white and sweet, such as Reislings and Gewürztraminer.
Beers: an alchemy of its own, Alsatian beers, like Mützig Old Lager and Edelweiss Blanche are absolutely wonderful.
Baeckaoffe: literally means “bakers oven”, a kind of stew dish with different types of meat, potatoes, vegetables and spices marinated overnight in white wine, covered with a basic dough/crust and baked for a few hours on low heat.
Choucroute (sauerkraut): sliced fermented cabbage served with salted and smoked meat and potatoes.
Flammekueche (tarte flambée): a regional specialty, which is basically a distant cousin of pizza.
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