Strasbourg, France - Guide

1. Strasbourg - Cathedral

Strasbourg’s most famous landmark, the Cathedral of Our Lady is one of Europe's finest medieval cathedrals. At 142 meters tall, it was the world’s tallest building from 1625 to 1874. Although religious buildings have stood on the site since Roman times, the present cathedral was begun in 1176. The West front is perhaps the finest feature of the building. It features thousands of carved figures and a myriad of religious iconography. Also noteworthy is the cathedral's astronomical clock. The remarkable mechanisms of the clock can compute Easter following the complex Gregorian rule.
The Cathedral is open daily from 7am to 11:20am and then from 12:35pm to 7pm. Tickets to view the impressive views from the top of the tower cost €2.

2. European Parliament

The Quartier Européen in the North West of Strasbourg is the home for a large complex of European Union administrative buildings. The most impressive of these is the Louise Weiss building, where the European Parliament meets for 12 sessions each year. The council chamber is the largest parliamentary chamber in Europe and contains 785 seats for MEPs and 680 for visitors. It also houses 1133 parliamentary offices. The public are welcome to sit in on parliamentary business but security measures require that visitors register first and provide valid ID's (eg. Passport, Driving Licence, ID Card).

3. Place Kléber

The Place Kléber is Strasbourg's largest public square. It is located in the heart of the Grande Île historic district of Strasbourg. Named after Jean Baptiste Kléber, a famous general during the French Revolution, Place Kléber has become a fashionable shopping district in the city and boasts many top designer labels. A building of note is the Aubette, a former military barracks built in the grand style, the building is now a mixture of shops and eateries. Of particular interest is the Café Aubette, which features fine examples of De Stijl interior design by Hans Arp and Theo Van Doesburg.