Excursions of Strasbourg

For a Half Day

Colmar:
The capital of the Haut-Rhin, 70km (43 miles) south of Strasbourg, is known for its quaint Old Town and dry wines (celebrated in the annual wine festival, Foire aux Vins). It is also home to the Retable d’Issenheim (Issenheim Altarpiece), painted by Mathias Grunewald, between 1512 and 1516, for St Anthony’s monastery and displayed at the Musee d’Unterlinden, 1 rue d’Unterlinden ; The museum is open daily 0900-1800 (May-Oct) and Wednesday to Monday 0900-1200 and 1400-1700 (Nov-Apr). Admission is €7 (concessions available).

Colmar is a 40-minute train journey from Strasbourg. Colmar Tourist Office, 4 rue des Unterlinden can provide further information.

For a Whole Day

Molsheim and the Route des Vins: The Route des Vins extends from Marlenheim, west of Strasbourg, to Thann, close to Mulhouse, offering opportunities for free degustations (tastings) and summer wine festivals. Molsheim is one of the largest towns on the itinerary, less than 30km (19 miles) southwest of Strasbourg - a 30-minute train journey. Its attractions, in addition to wine, include the medieval fortifications, the Porte des Forgerons (Blacksmiths’ Gate), the 16th-century Metzig and the Eglise des Jesuites, an impressive Gothic church.

Molsheim Tourist Office, 19 place de l’Hotel de Ville , can provide further information.

La Route des Vins d’Alsace and the Black Forest: Tourisme Fleury, 15 Rue du Kirchbert operates two tours on these routes, departing Strasbourg at 0930/1000 in air-conditioned mini-buses. The excursions visit the vineyards north of Colmar (Circuit A) or up to the Black Forest and Baden-Baden in Germany (Circuit B); both arrive back in Strasbourg around 1600. There is a minimum of two people and the tours cost €69.

Culture of Strasbourg

Fabienne Keller, Strasbourg’s new mayor, is dedicated to allocating a large portion of the city’s budget to culture. Music is its forte but Strasbourg does well across the cultural spread, with several events open to the public every day of the year.

The concert and opera seasons run from October until May. The largest concerts are shown at the Palais de la Musique et des Congres, place de Bordeaux. Recitals and chamber music can be heard inside churches and smaller concert halls. Every year, for a weekend in September during journee du patrimoine, Strasbourg’s cultural institutions allow free entry to the public. Since September 2002, two key cultural venues, TAPS Scala, 96 route du Polygone , and TAPS Laiterie, 13 rue du Hohwald , have been working together to present a long season (Sep-Jun) of theatre, music and dance.

Tickets are available for purchase at the venue or, for larger concerts, at FNAC, place Kleber.
Cultural activities are listed in the Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace, Strasbourg Magazine and Hebdoscope. More information about cultural events is found in Autour de… the French-only journal of the Opera National du Rhin, available from the Office du Tourisme (see Tourist Information in Sightseeing).

Music: The Opera National du Rhin, Theâtre Municipal, 19 place Broglie (, has earned Strasbourg a worldwide reputation for classical, lyrical and contemporary music. Other prestigious organisations include the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg , conducted by world-renowned Jan Latham-Koenig, which performs at the Palais de la Musique et des Congres, place de Bordeaux , the Percussions de Strasbourg, 15 place Andre-Maurois , and the Conservatoire National de Region de Strasbourg (CNR), 10 rue du Hohwald .

Theatre: Organisations that attract international companies, actors and directors include the Theâtre National de Strasbourg (TNS), 1 avenue de la Marseillaise , the Theâtre Jeune Public, 7 rue des Balayeurs , and Le Maillon, 13 place Andre Maurois . The Theâtre Alsacien de Strasbourg, located at the Theâtre Municipal, 19 place Broglie , and La Choucrouterie, 20 rue St-Louis , presents traditional shows and political satires in French and Alsatian. Le Kafteur, 3 rue Thiergarten, is a cafe-theâtre that presents humorous sketches.
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Health Risks in Strasbourg

Visitors to forested areas should consider vaccination for tick-borne encephalitis.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Tap water is safe to drink, but bottled water is preferred in France, as tap water comes full of minerals. Apart from normal digestive problems caused by change in diet, there are no extraordinary diseases in France. The damp weather may cause sinus trouble, colds, and flu.

Nightlife in Strasbourg

The student population keeps Strasbourg’s nightlife vibrant. Many of the regular hotspots are clustered around the Cathedral and along rue des Juifs, however, it is worth considering other options - such as an evening tour on a bateau-mouche or the son et lumière performances at the Cathedral in the summer.

Bars stay open until at least 2330 and often until 0400. The legal drinking age in France is 16 and the average price of a beer is approximately €3. Dress code and admission requirements are not an issue in Strasbourg.

Visitors proficient in the mother tongue can refer to Strass’Night, published by the tourist office, for nightlife listings and information. There is also an excellent online source of useful information, also in French , compiled by knowledgeable local students.

Bars: Le Zurich, 59 rue de Zurich, is a sparse but comfortable cafe, very popular with students during term time. Decorated with faded photographs, it has a certain old-world charm and draws a mixed bunch, who gather to chat, read the newspaper or play cards. The relaxing Academie de la Bière, 17 rue Adolphe Seyboth, is open daily until 0400, serving over 70 varieties of beer (including beer cocktails) in gorgeous, wooded interiors.

Le Schluch, 3 rue de l’Outre, is a large, friendly and centrally located bierstub, not far from place Kleber, while the Quai des Bières, at the pont du Corbeau, is best visited for happy hour (1730-2000). It offers a large choice of beers and cocktails. Another must is Les Frères Berthom, 1 place des Trippiers, with attractive decor, friendly staff, a good variety of beer and excellent cocktails - small wonder it is so popular.

Murphy’s House, 9 rue des Frères, is the obligatory Irish pub, although not the only one in the city. It comes complete with Celtic music and pop and British television. Irish Times, 19 Rue St Barbe, also has live music, and is popular with students. They have a quiz night on Wednesdays and an open mike sessions on Tuesdays. Pub Nelson, 20 rue des Couples, is another anglophile hangout, with a wide choice of beers from England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, France and Germany. The popular Tapas Cafe, 16 rue de Bain Finkwiller, is an ideal place to sink a jug of Sangria with friends. Designed by cutting-edge architect Jean Nouvel, Le Schutzenberger, 29-31 rue des Grandes Arcades, is a hyper-trendy, futuristic, three-levelled bar that serves good tapas and snacks and is open daily 1000-0200 (later at the weekend).

Perennial favourites include Les Aviateurs, 12 rue des Soeurs, and La Java-Le Village, 6 rue du Faisans. More dignified evenings are in order at the Hilton Hotel, avenue Herrenschmidt, which draws the business community with its ever-so-British Churchill Bar.

Casinos: Casino de Niederbronn, 10 place des Thermes, Niederbronn, is the region’s one and only casino, situated to the north of Strasbourg. Games include the traditional roulette and blackjack, as well as slot machines. The dress code is smart, the minimum age is 18 years and a passport is required for entry.

Clubs: Le Divan, 6 impasse de l’Ecrevisse, features Latin music, house, groove and salsa (Tue-Sat). A mixed crowd dance the night away at Le Chalet, 376 route de la Wantzenau (Wed-Thu 2200-0400), with two dancefloors, karaoke, restaurants and bars in a large, flash complex. Another mammoth venue, Le Colysee, route de Mommenheim, in nearby Brumath, is open Tue-Sun 2200-0400 and Wed 2030-0400, boasting one of the largest dancefloors in the region, along with lasers, restaurants, and frequent themed evenings. For a more intimate evening, La Cascade, 17 rue des Moulins (Thu-Sun 2200-0400), is an attractive little discotheque, situated in the heart of the Petite France district.

Le Joker, 7 Simenstrasse (Fri-Sat 2200-0500), is located in the industrial Kehl district and the venue of choice for fans of RnB. Two-level bar-club Le Cafe des Anges, 42 rue de la Krutenau (Tue-Sat 2100-0400), plays salsa with tango, as well as jazz and groove. Le Blue B, 1 rue du Miroir (Tue-Sun 2200-0400) is a good all rounder, with friendly staff, star-studded decor, a well-stocked bar and good music. For a student vibe, Le Caveau, 1 place de l’Universite, situated under La Gallia student canteen, is about as studenty as it gets. For those who just want to keep partying, Le Rock City, 24 rue des Poules, has after-parties on Saturday and Sunday 0400-0700, with the emphasis very much on rock.

Live Music: La Salamandre, 3 rue Paul-Janet, open Wed-Sunday 2100-0400, is a popular venue that hosts around 40 major concerts every year. International stars to have graced the stage include The Stranglers, Les Negresses Vertes, Pulp and Tri Yann. With space for around 500 people and reasonable prices, early booking is advisable.

In the absence of major performances, check out salsa, 60s, 80s, student, flexigroove and reggae evenings. The older members of the community are treated to ballroom dancing on Sunday nights. Another top venue for live performance is La Laiterie, 10 rue du Hohwald. Le Griot, at the impasse de l’Ecrevisse, just opposite the Hotel de Ville, on place Broglie, is one of Strasbourg’s best jazz clubs.

Getting Arouund in Strasbourg

Public Transport

The Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois - CTS operates the bus and tram systems in Strasbourg.

Trams run daily 0430-2430, approximately every two minutes in rush hour. Line A links the northwest (Hautepierre) with the south of the city (Illkirch-Graffenstaden) and passes through the main train station, place Kleber and place de l’Etoile. Line B links the southeast of Strasbourg (Elsau district) to the communes in the north (Schiltigheim, Bischeim and Hoenheim), while line C links Elsau to the heart of the university quarter, the Esplanade district. The lines meet at place de l’Homme de Fer in central Strasbourg.

Buses run Monday to Friday 0430-2330, Saturday and Sunday 0530-2330. The main stops are at Baggersee, Hautepierre, Observatoire, Montagne Verte and Pont Phario.

Bus and tram tickets cost €1.10 and a carnet of five (Multipass) costs €4.70. The Central Tourist Office, 17 place de la Cathedrale (tel: (03) 8852 2828), sells carnets of bus tickets and provides a free bus map. Tickets are also available from CTS bureaux located at place Kleber and at the central station, as well as from post offices, some newsagents (tabacs) and ticket machines at some of the stops. Tickets must be stamped for validation before boarding the tram or bus. There are machines at the stops for this purpose.

The TourPass, allowing unlimited bus and tram transport for 24 hours, costs €3. These are also available from CTS bureaux and the Office du Tourisme. A Family Pass is also available, costing €3.80.

Information on transport in Strasbourg is available online (website: www.transports-strasbourg.org ).

Taxis
Taxis can be hailed at taxi ranks at the train station and place de l’Homme de Fer. France Taxi operate 24 hours. Taxis charge €1.20 per kilometre during the day, rising to €1.80 at night and weekends. An extra charge of €0.50 is made for each item of luggage. Many taxis accept payment by credit card and tipping is not expected.

Limousines
AICS, 15 avenue General de Gaulle, provides a chauffeured limousine service at a rate of €499.25 per day. Similar services are offered by American Limousine Service, 5 rue Lyautey , and VIP Car Solutions, 58 rue de la Loire .
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Getting in Strasbourg

By Air

The airport, France’s seventh largest, is situated 12km (seven miles) southwest of Strasbourg. International links include flights to Amsterdam, Brussels, Casablanca, Copenhagen, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow and Vienna. There are excellent connections to Paris - links between the two cities represent approximately 70% of the airport’s traffic.

Major airlines: The national carrier is Air France . Other airlines include Air Littoral, Austrian Airlines, Iberia, KLM, Regional Airlines, Transaero and SN Brussels.

Approximate flight times to Strasbourg: From London is 1 hour 30 minutes; from New York is 8 hours; from Los Angeles is 11 hours; from Toronto is 8 hours 15 minutes and from Sydney is 23 hours 50 minutes.

Airport facilities: These include duty-free shops and boutiques, a restaurant, bar, newsagent, two ATMs and car hire from Avis, Budget Rent a Car, Europcar, Hertz, National/Citer and Sixt.

Business facilities: The airport hires out rooms accommodating from six to 60 delegates for meetings and conferences . Audiovisual equipment and catering is also available on request.

Arrival/departure tax: None.

Transport to the city: Compagnie de Transport Strasbourgeois - CTS operate shuttles (navettes) from the airport arrivals terminal to the Baggersee tram station (journey time - 12 minutes) from where there is a direct link to all points within the city. The tram service operates every 15 minutes Monday to Friday, Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, then every 30 minutes Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning (see Public Transport in Getting Around). The cost is €4.70 (single), €8.60 (return) and €42.50 (for a carnet of 10 tickets). Taxis to the city centre cost approximately €23.

By Road

Motorways (’autoroutes’) bear the prefix ‘A’ and national roads ‘N’. Minor roads are classed as ‘D’ (for ‘departementales’) roads. Traffic is on the right and drivers must give way to the right, unless the route is marked with ‘passage protege’ signs (a broad arrow, a yellow diamond or an ‘X’ on a triangular background), or if the driver is at a roundabout indicating ‘Vous n’avez pas la priorite’. Speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on motorways, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation, 90kph (46mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas.

Visitors who have held a driving licence for less than two years face tighter speed restrictions. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. All front and rear-seat passengers must wear seatbelts and children under 10 years may not travel in the front seat. The French police fine motorists on the spot for driving offences, such as speeding. Random breath tests for drinking and driving are common - the legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.05%.

A national driving licence, the car’s registration document and a red warning triangle must be carried at all times. EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card, without which insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal cover. The Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the car owner’s domestic policy.

Useful contacts for drivers in Strasbourg include the Automobile Club Action+, 5 avenue de la Paix , the Hotel de Police, 34 route de l’Hopital , and Zurich Assurances (Zurich Insurance), 7 rue de Verdon .

Emergency breakdown service: Automobile Club (0800) 080 001.

Routes to the city: Strasbourg is on the central European motorway network, directly connected to Paris by the A4 motorway to the west, linked to Munich via Stuttgart on the A8 Autobahn to the east and the A5 north to Frankfurt. The recently developed Strasbourg-Mulhouse route is linked to the national motorway network, facilitating access to Lyons and Marseilles, as well as to destinations in Spain and Italy.

Approximate driving times to Strasbourg: From Stuttgart - 1 hour 30 minutes; Frankfurt - 2 hours; Paris - 4 hours 15 minutes. Coach services: The coach station is located at place des Halles and served by two companies. Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois - CTS serves the immediate surroundings of Strasbourg, including Wasselonne, Obernai and Erstein. Mugler serves the north of Strasbourg and more distant locations, including major towns of Haguenau and Niederbronn-Les-Bains. Eurolines, 6D place d’Austerlitz , operates international coach services to major destinations throughout Europe.
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