Travel Guide to Strasbourg

Indian Embassy Near Strasbourg

Indian Embassy Near Strasbourg

Address: 13-15 Rue Alfred Dehodencq, 75016 Paris, France

Contact Number: +33 1 40 50 70 70

Visa Process for Indian Visitors to Strasbourg

• Original passports with six months validity from date of arrival in Strasbourg along with the old passports
• The passport should have two blank pages for stamping purpose
• Visa application forms
• A cover letter mentioning the details of the traveller, type of travel, and details of the visit.
• Confirmed hotel reservation for the complete stay
• Confirmed air tickets
• Day-to-day itinerary
• Travel Insurance
• Income tax returns or Form 16 for last three years
• Original and updated personal bank statements for last six months

The time required: 15 working days

About Strasbourg

Strasbourg is positioned on the border of both France and Germany and is lovingly called the ‘Ultimate European city’. The place has an extra European flavour since it is geographically strategic and culturally influenced by the two border countries. Strasbourg is officially the capital of the Grand Est region, formerly Alsace, in north-eastern France. It houses the European Parliament and sits close to the German border.

Its border confluence puts Strasbourg under the cultural and architectural influence of German and French style. So much that it may appear difficult to find which country you are in, exactly. For example, the city shows signs in German and French both, and there is even a common cuisine. The reason being; Strasbourg has been fought over by the two nations for many centuries, with France gaining dominance towards the end of World War II. During this time, the city design changed to cobbled street lanes, half-timbered houses and produced many local Alsatian dishes and impressed with its art museums.

Strasbourg is cosmopolitan, and besides its history, culture, art and architecture, another key Strasbourg points of interest are its Christmas market. It currently hosts France’s oldest Christmas Market and has special cathedral settings too. These are enough reasons to say; there are many things to do in Strasbourg.

Moreover, if you still wish for some more local action, there is the Black Forest and the Rhine River at the city-corner. The sweeping views of the Rhine River are one of the many tourist places in Strasbourg. The city is also popular for its stunning historical centre - the Grande Île - it's first city centre to be declared the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Places to Visit in Strasbourg

The one among the other famous places in Strasbourg- Notre-Dame Cathedral (Strasbourg Cathedral) - is the most stunning Gothic architecture marvel. It is an exquisite pink sandstone façade, which looks unique and stunning together. A visit inside the cathedral will leave you equally mesmerised with its intricate carvings and stained-glass windows taking credit for the complete glory of the place. The courtyard of the Cathedral hosts the famous Christmas Market, thus, making the Notre-Dame Cathedral its much-acquired status of the best places to visit in Strasbourg.

Petite France is an elegant and charming neighbourhood of Strasbourg. It is a pedestrian heaven way as its visitors stroll the streets, cross the bridges on-foot, over the Ill River. Running along the neighbourhood length are the timbered buildings which bake fresh gingerbread. Fill in your lungs with the fresh aroma of the baked bread or the colourful plants which make Strasbourg earn its brownie points- with the four-flower ranking.

Lying slightly ahead of the cathedral are several Strasbourg’s Museums. One such famous place is the home of the Rohan family in the Palais Rohan.

Place Gutenberg city location has a statue of Johannes Gutenberg in the centre. Johannes is a public-figure who lived in Strasbourg at the beginning of the 15th century. He is recognized for his work as the printer and inventor of moveable type.

A grand local walk-through is Place Kleber. Shop and observe the life around you in the busy city square. It has many famous shops and is always a bustling sight.

The city is home to many European Institutions and if anyone is interested to see the functioning of these European Institutions, head straight to the list of these famous buildings: Palais de l'Europe, the home of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament building, and the European Court of Human rights.

Another popular tourist site in Strasbourg is the towering astronomical clock inside Strasbourg’s iconic medieval Notre Dame cathedral. A 16th century built and presently running on a mechanism since the 18th century; the clock is surrounded by biblical automatons, Zodiac imagery, elemental motifs, religious statues and moving dials, fittings. Every day, at 12:30 p.m. the ritual of striking the bell by an angel and the turning over of an hourglass is a sight to admire followed by a sequence of events.

How to Reach Strasbourg

Strasbourg is centrally positioned, so it is easy to access the city from other major towns and cities. It is a few hours’ drive from Paris, Lyon and a few German cities. However, it is quicker to reach Strasbourg by plane. The city is well served by motorway, train and air travel. Strasbourg has high-speed rail connections to Paris and rest of the towns in France and its adjoining countries.

Travelling in Strasbourg

Strasbourg has been about cars and now, it is also about a fully-developed network of trams, bus, cycling and walking through the length and breadth of the town. It is a perfect, leisurely and pleasant experience for tourists of all sorts.

Best Time to Visit Strasbourg

The summer months of May, June, July and August count for the best time to tour Strasbourg. December is the Christmas time, and the festive cheer can be felt all across the Strasbourg streets. It is never too hot here. July is considered ad the hottest month and during this time, the average temperature is around 20c. May is rainy and the wettest month in Strasbourg.

September is typically the pre-autumn, and during this period, grape harvesting is done. Living up to the spirit, the city has many interesting activities conducted during September. Following which, October marks the beginning of autumn, and the city weather takes an even more pleasant course of the turn. There is less tourist crowd at the time, adding to the at-leisure vibe in Strasbourg.

January is freezing with the temperature plummeting to 2°C.

There are Christmas markets set up across the city, and the most prominent of the lot is- Broglie and place de la Cathédrale, although they are crowded. December in Strasbourg is all about extravaganza of lights, concerts, gift bazaars and mulled wine.

There are other cultural events such as operas, ballet, cultural and museum rendezvous and so on. They happen throughout the year. In the summertime, Strasbourg gives you a further reason to explore the city since there are unique market setups to indulge in local foods, local art, flea-sorts and shopping for old books.

What to Pack?

• To fit in, opt for a smart, stylish look
• Black is the colour to be worn anywhere here in comfort
• When in the countryside or on the beach, the dress is conservative outside Paris. However, you can still keep it stylish and smart.
• Carry a comfortable pair of sneakers or flipflops to walk the city
• Keep the heels for evenings or in a visit to restaurants
• When visiting restaurants, leave sneakers behind; this is a time to get those stylish shoes on
• Use neutral shades of lips balm
• If you want to blend in and feel at your most comfortable, then pack a smart casual dress
• For evenings, the dress code is smart casual. Wear simple, elegant dresses and wear minimal jewellery, a scarf and minimal makeup to impress.
• Keep a soft, winter coat
• Good umbrella and sunscreen

Top Delicacies of Strasbourg

Plan a visit to winstub (wine bar) to get an authentic flavour of France/German experience. Sip the white, tart and light like the Rieslings and Gewurztraminers, or the Alsatian beers.

Try the local eau de vie- a fruit liquor or a country liquor- to the extreme. This drink is entirely sweetened with fruit without sugar. Baeckoffe and coq au Riesling are local specialities. Baeckoffe is a stew of pork, mutton and beef. It is marinated in wine, and then, it is put to bake with potatoes. Coq Au Riesling is made with Riesling and served over a German noodle called fresh-made spaetzle. Alsatian desserts and pastries are popular, and so are tarts made with a variety of fruits.

Top Indian Restaurants in Strasbourg

Cinnamon

• Address: 15 rue de la Division Leclerc, 67000, Strasbourg, France
• Contact Number: +33 3 88 32 89 79

Le Namaste

• Address: 11, rue du Faubourg-de-Pierre, 67000, Strasbourg, France
• Contact Number: +33 3 88 23 00 58

Le Madras

• Address: 7 rue des Dentelles, 67000, Strasbourg, France
• Contact Number: +33 3 88 22 01 50

Shopping List Essentials

Strasbourg has general market conducts now and then. Several street vendors offering a variety of products and shops participate in the discount-centred market setups. These markets are organised in the city centre.

There is a special flea market, and antique sellers called marché aux Puces. There is, the Place des Halles, 24, place des Halles, a popular local shopping centre with more than 100 shops.

A recently opened shopping centre Rivetoile has high- budget shops. Rue Hellebardes and Gutenberg are a must visit for designer clothes and men's clothes. Bruno Saint Hilaire in houses designer clothes for men. There is an affordable, second-hand clothing shop in rue de la Lanterne and various gadget shops in rue des Juifs.

Healthcare Centers

It is advisable to keep the list of popular healthcare centres to be always prepared for any emergency that may encounter during the trip. As a measure, one should always invest in a travel insurance policy to keep the journey secured from all sides. Here is a list of popular healthcare centres of Strasbourg.

• Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hautepierre
• Nouvel Hospital Civil
• CLINIQUE TOUSSAINT (STRASBOURG)
• Clinique Sainte Anne

Currency

The stück is an area in and around Strasbourg. Which means stuck local currency is used alongside the Euro - the official currency of Strasbourg. Stuck and Euro have an equivalent value. One stuck = one Euro.

You can use an ATM to withdraw cash instantly. However, foreign transactions are chargeable. You can use your debit or credit card. Carry some Euros with you. Traveller's cheques are not accepted here in Strasbourg.

Basics of Local Communication

The locals probably speak Alsatian, French and German. The historical language of Strasbourg is Alsatian, a Germanic (mainly Alemannic) dialect, which is spoken along the Rhine. However, today the locals here prefer speaking French. However, they speak German as they learn it in school too. It is still wise to converse in French here. Here are some common phrases to help you do that (in French).

English : French

Hello : Bonjour

Thank You : Je vous remercie

Yes : Oui

No : Non

I am Sorry : je suis désolé

Help : Aidez-moi

Do You Know This Address? : Connaissez-vous cette adresse?

How Much? : Combien?