Hohenburg Abbey dates back to around 690; it is located on Mont Ste Odile, a peak in the Vosges…read morearound 1,000m high from which there are fantastic views across Alsace to the Rhine and Germany. For the more energetic, there are plenty of walks down and then back up the hillside, including a visit to the Ste Odile Source. There is also a hotel and restaurant.

Dating back as far as 1235, the Collégiale Saint-Martin was build on the site of a previous…read morebuilding. It is one of the oldest and most imposing Gothic-style churches in the Alsace region. It was the seat of the bishopric of the Haut-Rhin district during the French Revolution, which did see the interior stripped and taken elsewhere. Still, the outside of this imposing church remains. Note the interesting roofing. The tower replaces a spire that was destroyed in a fire in 1572. [Review 21177 overall - 96 in France - 140 of 2024.]

This is a beautiful church. The roof is very pretty. There are nice gargoyles. You can walk around…read more It's pretty. It's also very popular and lots of people around.

Amazing architecture [Strasbourg, France]…read more What a beautiful church! If this is anything like the Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris I am just in wow of how beautiful this gigantic towering building is inside and out. Access to the cathedral is free and without reservation you just have to queue up. The number of visitors entering the church are being monitored and I was lucky to be the last person in before they closed for a break in the afternoon. Anticipate security checks at the entrance by preparing to check your bag. The architecture outside present impressive details. (the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is no longer accessible to the public since the terrible fire that affected it on April 15, 2019) Review #4070

The cathedral is gorgeous with its Gothic architecture and massive from the outside & inside. They…read morehave beautiful stained glass windows which you can see when walking through the inside. Inside in the back is an astronomical clock which is very cool to watch all the pieces moving when it chimes. For those who want a little workout adventure there is a 332 step climb to a platform for city views. Definitely plan to stop in and take a look at this UNESCO World Heritage Site if you get a chance.

Hidden in the Strasbourg Cathedral, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, is the most beautiful…read moreAstronomical Clock. The cathedral itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an amazing example of Gothic architecture with one climbable large tower, very intricate façade sculptures, and a stunningly, rich interior. The Astronomical Clock, a Renaissance masterpiece, resulted from the collaboration between artists, mathematicians and engineers. Swiss clockmakers, sculptors, and painters worked together to bring the clock to life. The most recent update was in 1842. The main clock has a daily show at 12:30. The animated figures circle in a parade. Different stages of life, a child, a teenager, an adult and an old man, parade past Death. On a higher level, the apostles parade past Christ. So interesting. Entry to the cathedral is free, but they clear out the cathedral at noon and require a separate paid ticket to watch the "show." Definitely worth a stop in Strasbourg.

You can view the clock for free anytime the Cathedral is open, but if you want see all the…read moremovements of the animated characters, there is a video presentation that starts at noon, with the clock moving at 12:30 pm. There is a nominal charge, which will make sense to you later if you are in the area around the clock with 400 people, only so many people can fit The video is excellent, and is presented in French, German, and English. The clock itself is a treasured masterpiece of clock-making, astronomy, and mathematics. The storytelling is very good, as well.