Strasbourg

Strasbourg is one of Europe's most unusual and fascinating cities — a place that has been passed between France and Germany four times in living memory and has emerged with a hybrid identity that is entirely its own. The capital of Alsace sits on the Rhine, the natural border with Germany, and its architecture, cuisine, language and culture reflect centuries of cross-border influence. The Grande Île (Great Island) in the centre of Strasbourg, surrounded by the River Ill, is a Unesco World Heritage Site of striking beauty. The Notre-Dame Cathedral, built of rose-coloured Vosges sandstone, is one of the great Gothic buildings of Europe; its astronomical clock performs at 12:30pm daily; climbing the tower gives extraordinary views over the Alsatian plain. The Petite France quarter — half-timbered houses over canals, flower boxes at every window — is the most photogenic neighbourhood in France. Strasbourg is also the home of European institutions — the European Parliament and the Council of Europe are both based here, giving the city an unexpectedly cosmopolitan character. Alsatian cuisine is among France's most distinctive: choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with sausages and pork), baeckeoffe (meat stew), tarte flambée (Alsatian pizza) and some of France's finest white wines (Riesling, Gewurztraminer). The Christmas market (Marché de Noël) is the oldest and most famous in France. An excellent base for the Alsace wine route.