11 Places in Strasbourg Locals Don't Want You to Know About

A belly-o-meter

Have you heard of the büchmesser? It’s a rather unusual local tradition. A support pillar served as Strasbourg’s belly-meter to measure the girth of the workers involved in the construction of the cathedral, to make sure they would fit in the tight nooks and crannies required during the work. If the width of the man exceeded the width of the column, they were in trouble with the boss. Would you measure up? See for yourself. The belly-meter is located in one of the corners of the square surrounding the cathedral.

11 rue Merciére, Strasbourg, France

Unholy gargoyles

La Cathedrale de Strasbourg is considered a masterpiece of gothic architecture. Among its many striking features are the amazing intricate gargoyles and grotesques that adorn its exterior. Look closer though, and some of these imposing creatures seem a bit out of place. Irreverent, even comic figures of a donkey, a monkey… were the stone masons and designers poking fun at their all-powerful church patrons?

Place de la Cathédrale, Strasbourg, France

An unusual grotesque in Strasbourg’s Cathedral ©JRH430/WikiCommons

Scars of war

Strasbourg was a prized target during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, and was, therefore, one of the most highly defended cities in France. During the showdown on 23 August, Prussian forces opened fire on the city, unleashing a massive attack and the siege didn’t end until France’s capitulation on 11 September, with considerable damage done to the city. One such shell was never removed and is still visible on the façade of the Hotel de la Cathedrale.

Voodoo central

You may not expect the largest private collection of West African voodoo in the world to be located in Strasbourg, but there you have it. Château Vodou, located downtown in a converted water tower or château d’eau, presents intriguing and eerie objects of worship, divination, and witchcraft.

Château Musée Vodou, Rue de Koenigshoffen, Strasbourg, France, +33 03 88 36 15 03

Dine in a stable

Wine bar at Les Haras ©Sylvia Edwards Davis

Church of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune

While the cathedral gets most of the attention, and deserverdly so, this Protestant church in Strasbourg is a hidden gem worth visiting. Built from 1031 onwards on the site of a Merovingian chapel, the Gothic church of Saint-Pierre the Younger was consecrated in 1053 by Pope Leo IX, who himself hailed from Alsace. The base of the bell tower and a number of walls from the original Romanesque structure are still visible, as well as 14th-century frescoes, and remains from the 11th-century columns. Admission is free, but visitors are not allowed during service on Sunday mornings.

An ice factory

The building occupied today by the upscale hotel Régent Petite France was once a cutting-edge refrigeration establishment. Several rooms and machines have been preserved as part of the hotel development project and were registered in 1991 on the list of historic monuments of Strasbourg.

6 Rue Kirschleger, Strasbourg, France

Anciennes Glacières de Strasbourg ©Schlosser Saunal / monumentum.fr

Seriously old wine

It’s not exactly a secret, but this Strasbourg hidden gem can be easily overlooked. Tucked away in the cellars of the old medieval hospital are dozens of ancient barrels of wine, including one containing a vintage from 1472, said to be the oldest wine in the world. At one time medical care could be paid for with plots of land, many of which contained vineyards, and some winegrowers would entrust their products to the cellars for ageing. The dedicated religious orders that used wine both for ceremonial and therapeutic purposed turned winemaking into an art form.

1 Place de L Hôpital, Strasbourg, France

Oldest wine in the cellar of the hospice in Strasbourg ©Philippe de Rexel/OT Strasbourg