Strasbourg Beauty – Day and Night

Editor’s note: Did you know that Strasbourg is the “Capital of Christmas”? You can even access the capital of Alsace on a day trip from Paris.

Strasbourg is just a little over 90 minutes from Paris, and I was immediately struck by its profound beauty upon arrival. The city is defined by its rivers — two branches embracing a magnificent old center, complete with cobblestone streets, charming shops, and a profoundly welcoming spirit.

The Barrage Vauban is the perfect starting point, offering a view of these two river branches that is absolutely worth the climb. On this cold day, the reflections in the water were everything, doubling the beauty and making the historic buildings seem even more grand.

Next, I decided to embark on the slow climb up the 300+ steps to the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral. From the viewing platform, you gain a unique perspective of this majestic city, its patchwork of beautiful rooftops, and the sheer splendor of the church’s architecture below. Wandering around, I couldn’t help but take over 400 pictures; the city feels like a wonderland of imagery, compelling you to capture every second of it. Even the Place de la République, with its lush greenery, flowers, and ample benches, surpasses Paris’s version.

The Nighttime Transformation

As the day ended and night began to fall, the city transformed into another dimension of beauty. The daylight building reflections were replaced by electric light reflections everywhere. Though I was a week early for the renowned Christmas market, the holiday spirit was already visible — windows were filled with charming, small, furry animals, like the trio of singing groundhogs.

The Barrage, which had offered one perspective in the afternoon, now delivered a brand new, mysterious evening view. As I finished up, I was inspired to create an Impressionist-like photograph of the reflections and colored light stretching across the water as a figure walked along the riverbank. The city simply begs for artistic interpretation.

Watch for a full series of photos from this trip in mid-December on my website at: www.osuchphotography.com