Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Skipthe shortfilm about the cathedral that you'll see advertised along the right aisle.
Insidetherighttranseptisahigh-tech,15th-century
astronomical clock
(restoredin1883,
English explanation below) that gives aho-humperformance every 15minutes (keep your
eye on the little angel about 15 feet up, slightly left of center). The show is better on the
half-hour (angel on the right) and best at 12:30 (everybody gets in the act, including a
roosterand12apostles—forthe12hours;thisperformanceisviewableonlywithaspecial
ticket, described next).
ThechurchisclearedouteverydaybutSundaybetween11:15and12:45foraspecial
presentation of the clock. Visitors pay €2 to enter through the right transept and see a
20-minute movie (with English subtitles) that explains the clock's workings, then witness
the real event.
For €5 you can climb 332 steps to the
top of the narthex
for an amazing view over
Strasbourg,theAlsace,theRhine,andtheBlackForest(freefirstSunofthemonth,access
onrightsideofcathedral,dailyApril-Sept9:00-19:15exceptmid-June-AugFri-Satsome-
times until 21:15, Oct-March 10:00-17:15, last ascent 30 minutes before closing).
Nearby:
Terrific flying buttress views of the cathedral are available from outside the
right transept near Palais Rohan (described later). Before leaving the cathedral area, in-
vestigate the network of small pedestrian streets that connect the cathedral with the huge
Place Kléber (home to various outdoor markets, depending on the day of the week). Each
street is named for the primary trade that took place there.
Museums near the Cathedral
▲
Alsatian Museum
One of Strasbourg's oldest and most characteristic homes hosts this extensive and well-
presented collection of Alsatian folk art. Thanks to its thorough audioguide and printed
English explanations, you'll learn about Alsatian life and traditions from birth to death.
Entire rooms are re-created from traditional homes (including an impressive kitchen), and
models explain the ins and outs of half-timbered construction. The traditional tools, pot-
tery, toys, and costumes cover Alsatian culture over the centuries—there's even a good
overview of the life of a winemaker.
Cost and Hours:
€7, Wed-Mon 10:00-18:00, closed Tue, across the river and down
88 52 50 01,
www.musees.strasbourg.eu
.
Other Strasbourg Museums
These four museums lie outside the cathedral's right transept and are interesting only
for aficionados with particular interests or who have a full day in Strasbourg. The first
