Eurostar to Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a wonderful destination that mixes both French and German culture and history, being three kilometres away from Germany, and two hours away from Paris. Deep in the heart of the Alsace region, it is the capital and known by many as the European crossroads. After the Second World War, Strasbourg was chosen to be the 'European capital', so today it is the home of a number of international prestigious organisations. It's a wonderful place to visit for its cultural, historical, and gastronomic traditions. Strasbourg is one of the destinations available from the Eurostar connection services, so it's never been easier to reach.

About Strasbourg

When you arrive, take a trip to visit the city's famous Notre-Dame Cathedral. It is a dominating presence in the city, a fabulous example of Gothic architecture, and dates back to the fifteenth century. When it was built, it was the tallest building in the world due to its enormous tower, and maintained that title for over two hundred years. The tower itself needs to be seen to be believed! You can climb it, but bear in mind that there are three-hundred and thirty-two steps! However, if you manage to reach the top, you'll be rewarded with some phenomenal views of the city and the surrounding areas, including the Vosges mountain range and the Black Forest.

Just a short walk away, you'll also find the city's three most-visited museums. Take a day to explore all three: the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Museum of Fine Arts. You might also like to spend an afternoon exploring the city's historic quarter, which is known locally as Petit France. It is the area most famed for the Christmas markets, which have been taking place every year since 1570. It's a gorgeous part of the city, and can best be explored by boat. Four canals run through this historic part of the city, and on your journey you'll see some beautiful timber houses, medieval architecture, and quaint mills and bridges.

Despite its history, the city is now enormously cosmopolitan in feel, being the home to the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the palace of Human Rights. And being the hub of all of this activity, there are some fine restaurants to choose from, mixing both French and German delicacies.

Strasbourg by Eurostar Trains

One of the most convenient and enjoyable ways to get to Strasbourg is by train. You can get to Strasbourg on one of the Eurostar connection services. This means you'll have to change trains at some point. Eurostar trains depart from St Pancras International, a very easy-to-get-to destination in London. Your simplest option of connection services after getting on the train at London is to change Paris Gare du Nord, but you'll have to take a taxi or get on the metro to catch a connection train from Gare de l'Est. Take line four on the metro heading to Porte d'Orléans or line five to Place d'Italie. Once you are at Gare de l'Est, there are a number of TGV services going directly to Strasbourg. All in all, if you travel from London, you can expect the journey time to be about five hours.

Visit the official Eurostar web site to book your train tickets to Strasbourg.