Strasbourg, France, is one of the enchanting ports of call on the Zurich to Paris Viking River Cruise.
On the included bus and walking tours, we learn the city is a marriage of German and French influences, from architecture to culture, food, and wine. After the informative bus tour, we walk through the historic city center. The city dates back to a Roman camp, first mentioned in 12 B.C., and recently celebrated its 2,000th anniversary.
Canals crisscross our path, and we pass the Old Customs House and the bridges with their defensive towers. There are several of Rhineland’s historic black and white timber buildings and the sandstone Cathedral Notre-Dame of Strasbourg. It is one of Europe’s finest Gothic cathedrals. It was the world’s tallest building from 1647 to 1874.
History
Between 362 and 1262, the bishops of Strasbourg governed Strasbourg until the citizens violently rebelled against the bishop’s rule (Battle of Hausbergen), and Strasbourg became a free imperial city.
Strasbourg played an essential part in the Protestant Reformation. Delegates from the city took part in the Protestation at nearby Speyer. It was also one of the first centers of the printing industry, with pioneers such as Johannes Gutenberg.
It became a French city in 1681 after the armies of Louis XIV conquered Alsace. 1871, after the Franco-Prussian War, the town became German again until 1918 at the end of World War I, when it reverted to France.
After the defeat of France in 1940 during World War II, Strasbourg came under German control again through formal annexation under the Nazi Gauleiter Robert Wagner; since the end of 1944, it has again been a French city.
One of the darkest periods in the city’s history include the years 1940–1944 with the Nazi occupation, atrocities such as the Jewish skull collection, and the British and American bombing raids.
Astronomical Clock
One of the walking tour’s highlights is the cathedral and its astronomical clock. The current clock is the third on that spot and dates from the time of the first French possession of the city from 1681 to 1870—the first clock dates to the 14th century, and the second in the 16th century.
The current clock features a perpetual calendar, a planetary dial, a display of the actual position of the sun and the moon, and solar and lunar eclipses.
The main attraction is the procession of the 18-inch-high figures of Christ and the Apostles, which occurs every day at solar noon, while the life-size cock crows thrice.
Viking Cruises always stops at interesting, historical, and fascinating ports. For more information about their river, ocean, and expedition cruises, click here.
There is plenty of excellent food to be found here, but, being on a cruise, I assume you did not get much of an opportunity to sample it?!
Excellent article, Marilyn, concise and informative and a very recent reminder for us: we were there for a week just five weeks ago. And, yes, the food is good.