Strasbourg - France

One of the benefits for Americans going on vacation is to soak up the culture, language and food of a new country. By vacationing in Strasbourg you are getting double value for money. Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, is located on the banks of the Rhine on the border with Germany. The city has changed hands between the Germans and the French a couple of times. A few miles from the German border and the glorious Black Forest, seat of the European parliament, home to the Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe, home to a magnificent Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Site Old Town, Strasbourg has everything anyone would want in a vacation. And of course, this being the European Union and with the advent of the Euro you are at liberty to visit Germany only a few miles away.

Strasbourg is a very accessible city, with its own international airport. It can be reached from Paris by car on the A4 in about four hours. There are also excellent train services to and from the city. In the city there is a clean and reliable tramway line, as well as extensive bus routes.

One of the most memorable places in Strasbourg is La Petite France. It is easily Strasbourg's prettiest and most enchanting neighborhood, and arguably one of the best neighborhoods in all of France. Stroll along its streets, along bridges over the Ill River. Breathe in the scent of fresh-baked gingerbread or the inviting aromas from the restaurants. Gaze at the timbered buildings, bursting with blooming plants that earned this city the prestigious four-flower ranking.

In Strasbourg all roads lead to the Cathedral de Notre-Dame, a glorious sandstone confection that changes color with the light - from early morning pink to late afternoon ochre - and with a spire that can be seen all over the city. Outside it's surrounded by medieval houses, inside there's a medieval astronomical clock, which strikes noon at 12.30 (!) every day, and triple-tiered 13th-century carved stone column of exquisite grace.

Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region of France and you can explore a  region that is nestled between the beautiful Vosges mountains in France and the borders of Germany and Switzerland. It is a region rich in traditions. Alsace is a combination of cultures and unique charm. The famous Route du Vin encompasses over 100 wine producing villages between Strasbourg and Colmar, creating some of finest wines of France.  Alsace also provides excellent gourmet cuisine and has more Michelin star restaurants than any other region in France. Experience the gastronomy in refined and traditional dishes like the famous Baeckeofe. The beauty of its traditional architecture will surprise you with village after village of pretty half-timbered houses bedecked with brilliantly coloured flowers.

All in all, a vacation in Strasbourg will give you a delightful, cosmopolitan holiday with great value for money.