"Opera and Cycling in Strasbourg" Top 5 Page for this destination Strasbourg by Nemorino


Strasbourg Travel Guide: 1,071 reviews and 2,229 photos

The opera house on Place Broglie

When people ask me which opera I would take with me to a desert island if I could only take one, I always say it would be Don Carlos, by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) -- but all seven versions.

On a recent visit to Strasbourg I saw the five-act French version, with the American tenor Andrew Richards in the title role. I have also seen a five-act Italian version in Frankfurt am Main and Wiesbaden, a four-act Italian version in Braunschweig, Dresden and Geneva, and a German translation in Dessau.


Strasbourg is a fine city for cycling, and also has a very modern and efficient tram system. I didn't use the trams myself, because I had a bicycle the whole time, but it's obvious that the trams are fast, quiet, large, long and come very often, up to 23 times an hour on each of the four lines. There is a tunnel under the central station for one of the tram lines, but otherwise they are all above ground. As in a number of other French and German cities, the recently re-instituted tram and light rail systems have done a lot to reduce automobile traffic and make the cities cleaner and more livable.


On June 10, 2007, I was on the first regularly scheduled high-speed TGV train from Paris to Strasbourg. We left Paris East Station (Gare de l'Est) at 12:24 and travelled non-stop to Strasbourg, arriving a mere two hours and twenty minutes later at 14:43. Not bad considering that it used to take four hours.

Please have a look at my updated Strasbourg transportation tips for more about this new rail connection.

  • Last visit to Strasbourg: Jun 2007
  • Intro Updated Aug 4, 2011
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  • ettiewyn's Profile Photo
    ettiewyn Jan 20, 2012 at 4:22 AM Report Abuse

    Hi Don, great page about Strasbourg! I went there twice when I did school exchanges to a small town in Alsace, about ten years ago. I remember the cathedral very well and I think we also did such a boat trip, but I am not sure... The sign on the wall is very funny :-)

  • lmkluque's Profile Photo
    lmkluque Jan 19, 2012 at 7:47 AM Report Abuse

    Don, I enjoyed your Strasbourg page! I passed by this city on the train but didn't stop here. I would have if I knew about the Chocolate Museum!

  • balhannah's Profile Photo
    balhannah Oct 8, 2010 at 11:14 PM Report Abuse

    Golly the Train's go fast over there, so different to here. It is true here too, about in the olden days the people were a lot smaller, we are becoming quite a tall race of people now.

  • micas_pt's Profile Photo
    micas_pt Jun 17, 2010 at 2:11 PM Report Abuse

    Great tips about Strasbourg. I didn't know the verb scotcher and loved your description!

  • lynnehamman's Profile Photo
    lynnehamman Mar 7, 2010 at 2:12 PM Report Abuse

    Great page about Strasbourg, Don. The Opera House looks magnificent. And that chocolate museum would be worth a visit ... Boat ride also looks inviting.

  • Zvrlj's Profile Photo
    Zvrlj Jan 10, 2010 at 4:57 AM Report Abuse

    Strasbourg is among our future destinations, but mostly because it is near Colmar. Hope we'll use your great tips very soon. BTW thanx for visiting our Venice page.

  • Mikebb's Profile Photo
    Mikebb Jan 9, 2010 at 2:46 PM Report Abuse

    Hi Don, Have pencilled in Strasbourg for an overnight stop on our way to Paris. The new fast TVG train will be a bonus, but will miss the chocolate factory as in my youth I was auditor of a factory which specialised in Easter Eggs.

  • alancollins's Profile Photo
    alancollins Sep 1, 2009 at 10:10 AM Report Abuse

    My eldest daughter managed a trip Strasbourg a few years ago. The Chocolate Museum sounds interesting, I hope there were plenty of free samples. I have managed to persuade the wife, that we will spoil ourselves, and go to the Schokoladen-Café in Berlin.

  • Martinewezel's Profile Photo
    Martinewezel Aug 27, 2009 at 7:51 AM Report Abuse

    That's a good tip about the verbe "scotcher". A typical "Franglais" word. By the way, we have "Arte" too. One of the best channels!

  • Maryimelda's Profile Photo
    Maryimelda Jul 9, 2009 at 9:42 PM Report Abuse

    I'm having a lovely time touring your pages Don, especially those places that I will visit in August/September. I too have a booking at the Hotel Victoria. glad to hear that you liked it. Regards, Kate

Nemorino

“A bicycle is . . . the freedom you thought you were getting when you bought a car.”

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