Trains to Strasbourg

Taking the train to Strasbourg means travelling deep into the heartland of Europe. Its main station, Gare de Strasbourg-Ville, lies to the west of the centre and is a great example of the combined historic and modern architecture that this city carries off effortlessly. Leaving the station on foot, visitors can be on the canal banks of Grande Île within 5 minutes. Taking the quayside south leads past the École Nationale d’Administration, one of the most elite schools in France. Next door, the glass-fronted Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain has a collection of works by Kandinsky, Picasso, Monet, Gustave Doré, and more. From here, the Vauban Dam (a 17th-century bridge, weir and defensive structure) provides some of the best views of Grande Île and leads to ‘Petite France’.

This delightful medieval district is criss-crossed with canals and lined with half-timbered houses. Église Saint-Thomas is a 10-minute stroll from the bridge and one of the few protestant churches remaining from the Reformation. Palais Rohan, ‘Versailles in miniature’, is a little further along. The resplendent 18th-century regal abode now houses several museums. On the palace’s doorstop, Cathédrale Notre-Dame is a jaw-dropping Gothic edifice, complete with gargoyles, a Renaissance astronomical clock and kaleidoscopic rose windows. Should touring this culturally-dense city work up an appetite, local dishes such as Sauerkraut and Tartes Flambées should be sampled before heading back to Strasbourg train station.