Strasbourg Illuminated

Strasbourg, France is a delight to tour during the day  BUT at night it gets even better.  It becomes magical. No, I am not being weird. I am just describing the feeling many experience as the evening sets in and the lights come on.

Just sitting in a square, enjoying the lights can be rewarding… however there is much more.

Remember the cathedral we saw earlier?

Well, each evening (during the summer) the cathedral is transformed as lights cover the cathedral walls and music fills the square in front. You can stand anywhere in/near the square to enjoy the ten minute show, or better yet…find a seat in one of the restaurants surrounding the square, order a drink or a meal, and be entertained.

Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it and you may see more details.

A brochure from the tourist information centre explains  it more eloquently  than I can…

“The Cathedral of Our Lady will gradually be bathed in dark blue reflections, with thick swirls eminating from its buttresses creating the impression of a mysterious, haunting dance of light emerging to reveal a host of spiritual, lyrical and romantic treasures.”

The Illuminations de la Cathedral show is repeated several times each night so you can enjoy the choreographed show from different angles.

Remember the dam we saw when we were on the river tour? The boat turned around there and we went through a lock…remember?

Well… follow the signs from the cathedral to the covered bridges. (It is about a 20 minute walk) There you will find  Vauban dam (Barrage Vauban -Ponts Couverts) and  an even more spectacular show.

Aside: That is my personal evaluation. The show at the dam highlights the history of the city and I love history so that may what spoke to me more.

The water and light show (Strasbourg d’eau et de lumieres) that plays here each summer evening tells the two thousand year history of Strasbourg in a beautiful, captivating manner. We watched the show three times (I enjoyed it that much!)

To see daylight views of (and from) the dam click here.

To tour Strasbourg by La Petite Train, click here.

To tour Strasbourg by boat, click here.

Want to go elsewhere in France? Click here.

or to travel other countries…click here.

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