dovima

I'm getting a trip together for this winter which will put me in Strasbourg for 2 or 3 nights. I know Strasbourg has a good atmosphere for walking and wandering, which is fine with me because I love looking at buildings and exploring on my own. However, I know that Strasbourg is quite cold in the winter months and would like to know what indoor diversions I could depend on if the weather is too formidable. I'd be interested in hearing about museums in the city and also in Nancy, where I might take a day trip. Thank you!

richardab

It seems to me that Strasbourg is a walking city. So many sights and great shopping. Plan accordingly! I stay at the Hotel des Rohan which is right in the center of the city.

http://www.hotel-rohan.com/

Good rates, clean rooms, nice breakfast, GREAT LOCATION!

As far as day trips go....

I would skip Nancy and rent a car for a day and drive along the Alsace "Route du Vin". It hits little villages and wine towns along the way. It is very picturesque and quaint. The best 2 villages are Riquewihr and Ribeauville. Both have shops, restaurants and a very Germanic but still French feel. Here is the sight...

http://www.visit-alsace.com/winstub/vins_fr_road.html

dovima

Thanks, richardab.
I don't think I'll be driving on this trip - I'll leave that for a spring/summer itinerary.

I have an intense interest in Art Nouveau architecture and applied arts - that's why I'm considering going to Nancy. Has any one been to the municipal museum in Nancy, and if so, how were the exhibits (especially glass by Galle and other artists)?

grandmere

Another vote for Hotel de Rohan-right across the street from the cathedral, on a pedestrian street. Great little place!

laverendrye

I lived close to Strasbourg for three years and I wouldn't characterize it as "quite cold" in the winter, but I realize that this is very much a matter of personal perception, and that someone from a quite warm climate could certainly find it so. Nonetheless, it could be rainy and not conducive to extensive walking.

For museums,there is the Palais de Rohan and the Musée de l'Oevre de Notre-Dame quite close to the cathedral. The Musée Alsacien is also not far way and is a good folkloric museum of Alsace.

Another way to beat the inclement weather would be to find a nice winstub and settle in for a few hours. There are lots around, but I always liked Saint-Sépulcre (Hailich Graab), a very traditional Alsatian place. Zuem Strissel and Au Coin du Feu are also in the cathedral area and quite cozy places. Although it's touristy, the Maison Kammerzell is a marvellous old building and worth stopping for at least a snack if not for a full meal.

I don't know whether you will have a car, but even in winter, the Route du Vin is worthwhile seeing, but preferably on a sunny day. The Rhine Valley gets fogged in often in winter, and you might not see much on one of those days. On these day,s however, it is often sunny up in the Vosges, and that could be an interesting diversion. It will, however, be quite a bit colder up there, with snow on the ground (and perhaps on the roads).

laverendrye

Sorry, I didn't see your post that you would not have a car when you visit, so disregard my advice on the Route du Vin.

With your interest in Art Nouveau, I should also have mentioned the Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain, which opend a few years ago and covers the post 1870 period. I'm not sure how extensive its collection of Art NOuveau is, but you might find it worthwhile to visit.

A correction on my previous post: it's "Oeuvre" not "Oevre".

dovima

Thank you for all the great tips!

jay

Strasbourg if fabulous in the winter. Asz someone else mentioned, it is in a great location for day trips to Colmar, ribeauville and riequier(sp). We also squeezed in a trip to Baden-Baden. When are you going?

dovima

Jay,
If all goes well, I'm going in early December. If all goes so-so, it'll be in late January. But I'm going, come hell or high water!

socialworker

Last March we stayed at the Hotel des Rohan on the recommendation of richardab and grandmere above. We loved it! One thing we did notice is that some inner rooms that face the airshaft are small and dark, so you might want to request a room on an exterior wall. We had a *wonderful* large room that looked out the back of the hotel overlooking another nice little pedestrian street. We loved Strasbourg and staying at that hotel contributed a lot to our enjoyment. My husband went to a museum very near the hotel that he really enjoyed. It was in the basement of the Palais Rohan and called the Musee archeologique. It covered all the prehistory of the Alsace and he said it was one of the most interesting museums he had ever seen.