Let me say off the top that Strasbourg is a city that over-delivers. From charming streets and buildings that date to the Middle Ages, to a relaxed vibe and a welcoming populace, this comfortable city has been a revelation. We found the charm that Pat and I anticipated from photos such as the one opening this post, but we found much to admire beyond the highlights most visitors see.

Strasbourg is the largest city in the Alsace region of eastern France, an area that has changed hands between Germany and France for hundreds of years. You can ride a local tram from the city to the other side of the Rhine to Germany, or simply stroll across a pedestrian bridge. We didn’t have time to do either, but the fact you can is kind of cool.

Strasbourg and the Alsace region welcome thousands of visitors annually, many of them from Germany and other nearby countries. Strasbourg’s Christmas market is a big draw. Visitors from North America are more likely to come during the summer, many dropping in for a few hours as part of a cruise down the Rhine. We opted to stay three nights in the city as the first stop on our fourth visit to France as a couple. If a river cruise is your only option for visiting, come, but if you have a bit more time it’s worth staying longer.

The influences of the German and French cultures are clear. First is the local Alsace dialect that has words even a local guide described as “unpronounceable.” The German influence is most noticeable with food, especially a signature local dish called choucroute. It’s typically several varieties of pork cuts and sausage over sauerkraut. The protein can vary (Pat had a version with duck confit), but the sauerkraut is kind of a given. Yeah, that’s pretty German, and it is hearty. And yes, I ate the pork version.

But weirdly Strasbourg is also the birthplace of France’s national anthem, “Les Marseillaise.”How much more French is that?

We arrived in Strasbourg via a TGV high-speed train directly from Charles DeGaulle airport after flying from Newark. The trains leave from Terminal 2, which can easily be reached using the airport tram. Directions are clearly marked. We reserved seats on the train directly using the SNCF website prior to departure. Seats are assigned on the TGV trains so you don’t have to scramble. We arrived on a Saturday so the train was quite full. Weekday departures might be less crowded.

While convenient, our caution would be to allow yourself enough time to get through customs upon arrival. We were lucky in that we arrived early and no other flights had come in so we sped through the new electronic entry process. You first scan your passport and then facial recognition technology confirms you are the same person. It’s pretty seamless, but there were only eight or so machines so we could imagine processing could get bogged down with a crush of incoming flights.

We will talk more about the city and its attractions in a second post.