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Historic neighborhood · Estrasburgo, Grande Leste
Petite France
Former quarter of millers, fishermen and tanners on the banks of the Ill canals, with half-timbered houses, the Ponts couverts and the Barrage Vauban, from where you get a panoramic view of the neighbourhood.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Petite France
La Petite France is at the far west of the Grande Île, where the river Ill splits into channels. It used to be the neighborhood of millers, fishermen and leather tanners, who needed water for their work. The tall half-timbered houses, with open attics where hides were dried, still stand along the quays and locks.
The name has nothing to do with longing for France: it comes from a 16th-century hospital where soldiers with syphilis — then called the "French disease" — were treated. In Alsatian the neighborhood is called Französel.
The Ponts couverts are three bridges over the Ill guarded by four medieval defense towers. The roofs that once covered the bridges have disappeared, but the name stuck. A little further on is the Barrage Vauban, a 17th-century fortified dam that could flood the southern part of the city in case of attack. The terrace atop the Barrage Vauban is open to the public and offers one of the city's most famous views: the towers, the bridges and, in the background, the cathedral.
Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes, Place Benjamin-Zix and Quai de la Petite France are where the most photographed houses are. There are also several winstubs there, the Alsatian taverns where you can eat choucroute and baeckeoffe (a meat-and-potato stew) accompanied by regional wine.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 to 2 hours to walk through the neighborhood, cross the Ponts couverts and go up to the Barrage Vauban terrace.
Best time
In the morning, before the tour groups arrive, or late afternoon, when the houses are reflected in the water. In the summer months (June to August) the windows are often full of flowers.
How to get there
It's about a 10-minute walk from Gare de Strasbourg and about 15 minutes from the cathedral following Grand'Rue. The nearest tram stop is Alt Winmärik.
Tip
Go up to the Barrage Vauban terrace: the view matches many of the city's postcards, and admission is free. To eat in a winstub, reserve for dinner; many close the kitchen between lunch and dinner.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Petite France
Why is the quarter called Petite France?
The name comes from a 16th-century hospital that treated soldiers with syphilis, a disease then known as the "French disease".
What are the Ponts couverts?
They are three bridges over the Ill with four medieval defensive towers. The roofs that once covered them have gone, but the name has stuck.
Can you go up the Barrage Vauban?
Yes. The terrace atop the dam is open to the public and offers views of the Ponts couverts and the cathedral.
Where to eat Alsatian food in the Petite France?
The quarter has several winstubs, traditional taverns serving choucroute, baeckeoffe and flammekueche. Reserve for dinner, especially on weekends.