Stops along the Rhine

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Heading downstream on the Rhine our first stop in France was Strasbourg. A very nice walking tour of the old town.

Strasbourg Cathedral, built between 1015 and 1439, it’s famous in many ways. It was the world’s tallest building until 1874(466 feet tall). The astronomical clock inside the cathedral was built between 1838 and 1842 and it was based on previous versions dating back to 1352. It has many animated figures that move at various times The stained glass windows were removed and put in hiding in a salt mine just prior to the Nazi’s arrival in 1939. These windows were discovered by allied forces (The Monuments Men) in 1945 and returned to the church.

Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral, example of Gothic architecture and some later additions in Romanesque style.
The astronomical clock in the cathedral. The clock is accurate, shows official and solar time, displays zodiac signs, date and day if the week, phases of the moon, and more…..
Just some of the stained glass windows that surround the clock
Another window in the cathedral
“Petit France” is a beautiful old part of Strasbourg. Now the highest price real estate in Strasbourg. It used to be not so nice. It includes a leather tanning district and a large hospital once used to treat syphilis. They called it the French Disease. The French soldiers brought syphilis back with them from military campaigns in Italy.
Typical narrow streets of the old town and the home on the left is a timber frame home. They built the first floor of stone to protect against occasional flooding then they built they built the upper floors out of timber. Wood was readily available and cheap. The upper floors extended out over the lower floor because property tax was based on square footage of the ground level.
A nice walk thru the “Petit France” district
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Published by rodandpatty

Rod and Patty Jenkins are retired and enjoy traveling. We hope you enjoy our posts as we we see different locations around the globe.

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