PARIS & STRASBOURG – TWIN CENTRE
We travelled over on the Eurostar from St Pancras using the standard premier service which, if budget allows, includes spacious 1st class seats and quiet cabin and you are served drinks and a meal as well, 2.5hrs straight through from the centre of one city to another...
With the Olympics due to be held there this year the city is getting a lovely clean up, everywhere is looking sparkly and new. The iconic Eiffel Tower and the wonderful Architecture it really is a beautiful city to wander around or just sit in a street cafe and people watch....
We stayed on the left bank in Saint Severin which I can recommend. Lots of restaurants and bars around for you to visit. Very easy to get around Paris on the metro from there as well. Each metro journey is 2.15 euros simple or buy a carnet of 10 if you plan to travel around a lot by metro, bear in mind walking around Paris is easy and a pleasure too! I recommend the hop on hop off buses and also take a boat trip on the Seine to see Paris in all its glory from the river. Of course, you have to visit Montmartre and Sacre Coeur area, high up on that hill, we climbed all the way up and took the funicular down (should have done it the other way with hindsight!!) It was a wet day but still the view was worth the climb.
After mooching around looking at the beautiful city, eating too much…well when in Paris, we took the train to Strasbourg approx. 2.5hrs away. Strasbourg – Your eye is never bored so the saying goes, well I concur.
We stayed in Petit France which is the old centre of Strasbourg and I would say has got to be one of the prettiest towns I have stayed in. This is the very old part of the city on the Rhine with all the old half- timbered buildings, cobbled streets, cafes, restaurants and very friendly people. It was approximately a 10 mins walk from the station to get to.
The cathedral in Strasbourg is a wonder to behold. Beautiful carvings – how the did them all those years ago really is awe inspiring and the lovely stained glass windows. With the astronomical clock within, which they are very proud of and rightly so, sits a Renaissance masterpiece, it is a result of the combined work of artists, mathematicians and technicians. A little tip, the cathedral is free to enter and therefore you can see the clock chime and some of the movement but then they close it from 11.45-12.45 each day as at 12.30 the clock does a full movement with the all the animated figures coming out and even a cockerel crowing. To see this they limit the numbers so you have to purchase a ticket for 4 euros which includes a film, which we found extremely informative, telling you all about the clock. (not shown on a Sunday or bank holidays) well worth it.
We also did the little tourist train around the town, but I would recommend the boat trip as that was such a pleasure to sail around the city and learn about the town and its history.
Strasbourg your eye is never bored…I agree most definitely worth a visit!
We took the train from Strasbourg back to Paris after a couple of nights (all trains must be pre booked) you arrive into Gare L'est in Paris and now the walk is even easier as there is a walkway that has been built directing you straight to the Gare du Nord to get your Eurostar back (takes 10 mins to walk)
If you would like to visit one or both these cities do get in touch and I can give you a quote