History · Strasbourg · France
8 historic sites to see in Strasbourg
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Strasbourg Cathedral, Astronomical Clock and Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 3 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Grande Île, Petite France and Neustadt
Historic sites in Strasbourg
Religious site · Grande Île
1.Strasbourg Cathedral
Inside are rose windows, medieval stained glass and the Pillar of Angels. Entry to the nave is free.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Grande Île
2.Astronomical Clock
Every day at about half past midday, a procession of the apostles passes before Christ and a rooster crows.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Petite France
3.Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban
Just beyond, the 17th-century Barrage Vauban, a covered dam, has a free panoramic terrace on its roof looking back over the towers, Petite France and the cathedral.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
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Palace · Grande Île
4.Palais Rohan
The 18th-century palace of the prince-bishops, beside the cathedral, houses three museums: the Museum of Decorative Arts in the state apartments, the Museum of Fine Arts with European painting from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, and the Archaeological Museum in the basement.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Grande Île
5.Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame
The building itself is a cluster of Gothic and Renaissance houses.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Grande Île
6.Musée Alsacien
It is a good introduction to the region before travelling into the countryside.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Architecture · Grande Île
7.Maison Kammerzell
It is now a restaurant.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
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Neighbourhood · Neustadt
8.Neustadt and Place de la République
Wide avenues lead to the neo-Renaissance University Palace.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Grande Île | Strasbourg Cathedral, Astronomical Clock, Palais Rohan, Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame, Musée Alsacien and Maison Kammerzell | 1 hour + 30 minutes + 2 hours + 1–1.5 hours + 1 hour + 15 minutes |
| Petite France | Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban | 30 minutes |
| Neustadt | Neustadt and Place de la République | 1–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 4 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Palais Rohan; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Grande Île): Strasbourg Cathedral → Astronomical Clock → Palais Rohan, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Grande Île, Petite France and Neustadt): Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame → Musée Alsacien → Maison Kammerzell → Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban → Neustadt and Place de la République, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 9 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Still cold and quiet, with low hotel prices; occasional bright, frosty days.
- January: highs of 4°C (39°F), about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cold and grey, with frost and occasional snow; the Christmas crowds have gone and museums are quiet.
- October: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Autumn colour in the parks and vineyards, with harvest festivals in the wine villages.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Grande Île — The UNESCO-listed island of the cathedral, squares and winstubs
- Petite France — Half-timbered tanners' houses, canals and locks at the island's western tip
- Neustadt — Grand German imperial boulevards, the university and Place de la République
More of Strasbourg
All things to do in Strasbourg · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Strasbourg?
Strasbourg Cathedral. Built from pink Vosges sandstone between the 12th and 15th centuries, Notre-Dame de Strasbourg has an intricately carved west façade and a single 142-metre spire, the tallest building in the world for over two centuries.
+Which of these are free in Strasbourg?
Strasbourg Cathedral, Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban, Maison Kammerzell and Neustadt and Place de la République.