Strasbourg · see the sights

The sights

Allow about 3 h 20: 1 h 00 of riding at an easy 12 km/h, and 20 min at each of the 7 sights.

1. km 0.0

   Place Kléber

   This is the main square of Strasbourg. The statue is General Kléber, who was born in the city. His tomb is under the statue.

   In December, a very tall Christmas tree stands here for the Christmas market.

   Checked against Wikipedia: Place Kléber; Jean-Baptiste Kléber.

2. km 0.5

   Strasbourg Cathedral

   For more than 200 years, from 1647 to 1874, this was the tallest building in the world. The spire is 142 m high.

   Inside, the astronomical clock shows a parade of the Apostles at 12:30. You need a ticket, and there is no show on Sundays.

   The streets around the cathedral are for people on foot. Walk your bike here.

   Bike parking about 30 m away (8 places).

   Checked against Atlas Obscura: Strasbourg astronomical clock; my-weekend-in-alsace.com: the cathedral.

3. km 1.2

   La Petite France

   Tanners, millers and fishermen worked here, where the river Ill divides into canals.

   The half-timbered houses are from the 1500s and 1600s. Their open lofts were for drying animal skins.

   The lanes are narrow and full of people. Walk your bike along them.

   Bike parking about 50 m away (16 places).

   Checked against La Petite France (tourism references); OpenStreetMap.

4. km 2.1

   Barrage Vauban

   This bridge is also a dam. It was built around 1690. In a war, it could flood the land south of the city.

   Its roof is a free terrace. From there you can see the Petite France and the cathedral.

   Bike parking about 100 m away (16 places, covered).

   Checked against je-visite-alsace.fr: barrage Vauban; archi-wiki: barrage Vauban.

5. km 4.3

   Place de la République

   After 1871, Strasbourg was part of Germany. The Germans built this new district, the Neustadt, around this square.

   The big buildings around the garden are the old imperial palace, the library and the theatre.

   Bike parking about 60 m away (34 places).

   Checked against Place de la République; the Neustadt (general references); OpenStreetMap.

6. km 6.3

   European Parliament

   Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament. Its members meet here for a few days each month.

   Across the river are the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.

   Bike parking about 170 m away (8 places).

   Checked against European Parliament (general references); OpenStreetMap.

7. km 6.9

   Parc de l'Orangerie

   This is the oldest park in Strasbourg. Its pavilion is named after Joséphine, the wife of Napoleon.

   Look up for storks. They are the symbol of Alsace, and many nest in the trees here.

   The ride stops at the edge of the park. Lock the bikes there and walk about 200 m to the pavilion.

   Bike parking about 20 m away (4 places).

   Checked against strasbourg.eu: pavillon Joséphine; visitstrasbourg.fr: the Orangerie park.

The words at each stop were written for this ride and checked against the sources named. Bike parking is from OpenStreetMap; it is not checked on the ground. Museums and churches have their own opening hours.