Petite France & Cathedral: Private Walking Tour of Strasbourg
- Varighed: 2 Timer (Ca.)
- Sted: Strasbourg
Follow a certified tour guide in the Grande Ile, a Unesco World Heritage site, around the old pedestrian areas, the Cathedral and the Petite France neighborhood. The tour includes major landmarks such as Maison Kammerzell, Gutenberg square, St. Thomas church, the former tanners’ houses, the Covered Bridge and many more.
Pick up by your guide at your centrally located Hotel
For this private walking tour of the beautiful city of Strasbourg, your guide will come and pick you up at your hotel or accommodation in central Strasbourg. If you are not based in Strasbourg and are coming from outside, we will suggest a convenient meeting point where to meet your guide.
The Cathedral
Begin your private 2-hour walk in Strasbourg.The old city centers around its Gothic cathedral, Our Lady of Strasbourg, built of red sandstone and described by Victor Hugo as a “gigantic and delicate marvel”! Follow your expert guide for the Cathedral* visit including the marvelous façade that provides one of the finest picture books of the Middle Ages that you will ever see.
The hundreds of sculptures which almost seem to leap out at you from the wall make great use of light and shadow effects. Another major attraction that your guide will comment on are the stained-glass windows dating from the 12th and 14th centuries and that form a particularly enchanting sight along with the rose window.
Finally, the highlight of the visit to the Cathedral of Notre Dame is the amazing Renaissance astronomical clock. Built in 1843 it features an orrery, a rotating display of the sun and moon, a planetary calendar, and even a mechanical rooster. Each day at around 12:30, the bird crows and a conga line of apostles issues forth from the clockworks, led by a little Christ.
* Please note that the audio headset rental that is compulsory to visit the Cathedral is included in the price.
The Old Town & La Petite France district
After the visit of the Cathedral, reach the Petite France district. Historically, this was the poor section of the city occupied by mills and tanneries, both of which depended on the river and its downward flowing branches to support their work.
Today, the neighborhood is one of the most charming of Strasbourg with its colorful 16th and 17th century half-timbered houses such as the ‘Maison des Tanneurs’ that your guide will certainly point out.
Your private guided tour in this charming area will lead you to our final stop: a series of fortified bridges and their three towers. This succession of three bridges linking arms with the Ill River is dominated by three 14th century towers, remains of the ancient medieval ramparts, which totalized 90 towers. The bridges themselves were once capped by a wooden roof.
Of course Strasbourg offers so much more including the visit of the German district, the visit of the European Parliament or the different Museums located in the Palais Rohan. Since this is a private tour don't hesitate to reach out to our team of travel advisors if there is a highlight of Strasbourg that you would like to include on this tour.
After your tour, why not join one of our half day or full day trips from Strasbourg to the most important landmarks of Alsace along the wine route?