Petite France
Located on the aforementioned La Grande Île (main island), this area of the city is home to the most charming throwback to the Middle Ages with timbered houses, cascading canals, cobbled streets, and essentially everything that springs to mind when one pictures France in centuries past. Home to many cafés and restaurants, the picturesque quarter is ideal for a summer’s afternoon.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg
Undoubtedly the essential item on any itinerary of Strasbourg is the cathedral; standing at 142m, it is the world’s sixth tallest church, and was the world’s tallest structure until 1874. A truly magnificent piece of Gothic architecture; one cannot help but stand in awe of the sheer scale of it, and especially given the very antiquated and small buildings in the rest of the city, it is visible from any point in the city, or, indeed, from even farther afield. Consequently, the church has received glowing praise from many luminaries of French and German culture, and one must make a point to see it if anywhere near the region, let alone just being in Strasbourg. Be sure to also see the astronomical clock inside, and marvel at a 300 year old timepiece still function.