ALSACE - France 2014 - page 1462

and Wednesdays at 20:30, listen to traditional music on these squares (Mon—Place des
Tripiers, Tue—in La Petite France on Place Benjamin Zix, and Wed—Place du Marché
aux Cochons de Lait).
Summer Outdoor Shows
Strasbourg keeps its visitors entertained until the wee hours in summer. Every day in July
and August, the soaring cathedral is bathed in colorful lights that allow visitors to “con-
template the cathedral and its architecture from a new, contemporary perspective.” The
sound-and-light show is free and runs every 20 minutes until 24:30 (starts at 22:30 in
July and 22:10 in Aug). And every Sunday in July and August (expect July 14 as well),
a water-and-light show explodes over Bassin d'Austerlitz, featuring fireworks and multi-
mediaeffects(free,at22:30inJulyandat22:00inAug,lastsabout30minutes,taketrams
#A or #D to the Etoile Bourse stop or walk).
Christmas Market
From the last Saturday of November until December 31, the city bustles and sparkles with
its delightful Christkindelsmärik, held near the cathedral (hotel rates climb).
Sleeping in Strasbourg
Strasbourg is quiet in the summer (July-Aug), when 4,000 Eurocrats leave town and hotel
pricesfall—andslammedwhentheparliamentisinsession,throughoutDecember(thanks
to the Christmas market), and during major conferences.
$$$ Hôtel Cathédrale*** is comfortable and contemporary, with a Jack-and-the-
beanstalk spiral stairway (elevator begins one floor up) and a hopelessly confusing floor
plan. This modern yet atmospheric place lets you stare at the cathedral point-blank from
your room (small Db with no view-€90, medium Db with no view-€140, larger Db with
view-€160-220, lower prices possible on weekends, frequent Web promotions, buffet
breakfast-€13, air-con, free Wi-Fi, laundry service, free bicycles for up to 2 hours, book
ahead for one of 5 parking spaces-€18/day, 12-13 Place de la Cathédrale, tel. 03 88 22
12 12, toll-free in France 08 00 00 00 84, www.hotel-cathedrale.fr , reserv@hotel-cathed-
rale.fr ) .
$$ Hôtel Suisse**, across from the cathedral's right transept and off Place du
Château, is a welcoming, central, and solid two-star value (Sb-€70-85, Db-€95, extra
person-€10, breakfast-€10, prices €10 less in Jan-Feb and July-Aug, elevator, free loaner
bikes, Wi-Fi, cozy lounge-café, 2 Place de la Râpe, tel. [phone], www.hotel-
suisse.com , [e-mail] , engaging owner Edith).