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France : Strasbourg - June 2010

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Strasbourg is the place for lovers of sweet sounds in June, when the annual Festival de Musique (3-25 June) overlaps with the beginning of notable jazzfest Festival de Jazz (30 June); visit festival-strasbourg.com for details. Lucky visitors can also enjoy the grand parade being held this month, to replace the February carnival that was postponed due to bad weather. Anthea Gerrie straps on her dancing shoes

Getting around

Strasbourg International

Bus: A bus to Baggersee Station, which has an A-line tram connection to the city centre, leaves every 20 minutes. It takes about 30 minutes and costs €5,10.
Train: Trains leave Entzheim Station every 30 minutes from 5.30am to 8.30pm. The journey to the centre takes 12 minutes and costs €2,10.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs around €35 and takes about 20 minutes.
Tourist information: The central tourist office is at 17 Place de la Cathédrale (tel. , otstrasbourg.fr)

GRAND ÎLE

You can’t see Strasbourg without traversing this central area. It occupies a great chunk of the city, including the 16th-century cathedral that is the jewel in its crown, and surrounding narrow streets lined with medieval buildings.

Sleep soundly – You can not only listen to Mozart this month, but also sleep where he once lodged, at the Cour du Corbeau (6-8 Rue des Couples, tel. , accorhotels.com, rooms from €129), a beautiful 16th-century inn recently updated to meet the needs of modern travellers.

Culture vultures – Mozart’s Requiem Mass kicks off this year’s Festival Of Music on 3 June, while Mahler’s Seventh Symphony will end it on the 25 at the Cathédrale de Notre Dame (Place de la Cathédrale). Even if you miss the concerts, don’t neglect to visit the cathedral; time your visit for shortly before 12.30pm, when a procession of apostles emerges from the magnificent astronomical clock.

Must eat – Au Crocodile (10 rue de l’Outre, tel. ), one of Strasbourg’s finest restaurants, this year re-qualified for a Michelin star under its new owner, chef Philippe Bohrer. Or Flam’s Frères (29 Rue des Frères, tel. ) is a great place to get freshly-made flammekueche; a crisp Alsatian tart topped with bacon, onions and crème fraîche.

Must drink – When you need a break from olde-worlde charm, Jeannette et les Cycleux (30 Rue des Tonneliers) serves up mojitos and hearty platters of cheese and sausages against the backdrop of a rock’n’roll soundtrack.

PETITE FRANCE

A chocolate box come to life, this pretty island – an easy stroll from Grand Île and Right Bank alike – is worth fighting the crowds to see up close and personal.

Culture vultures – This month the Musée d’art Moderne et Contemporaine (see above) is celebrating the work of Welsh artist Richard Deacon with a show of nearly 40 sculptures, opening 5 June.

Must eat – The chic Art Café of the Musée d’art Moderne et Contemporaine (1 Place Jean Arp, tel. ) is a great place to grab some culture with your grub, and it’s open for brunch, lunch and dinner.

RIGHT BANK

Culture lovers will enjoy the far side of the River Ill, lined with enticing museums and esoteric places to eat, drink and shop.

Sleep soundly – The Hotel de l’Ill (8 Rue des Bateliers, tel. , hotel-ill.com, rooms from €58) offers simple comforts at a great price.

Culture vultures – The excellent Musée Alsacien (23-25 Quai Saint-Nicolas) is not to be missed by lovers of folk art, or any visitor seeking an insight into the culture and history of this unique region at the crossroads of Europe.

Must eat – L’Arsenal (11 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, tel. ), a favourite of visiting politicos, serves up regional dishes with a contemporary twist in a handsome 19th-century mansion.

Must drink – There’s no more enticing place to kick off a summer evening than Illvino (Quai des Pêcheurs), a sleek wine bar aboard a moored riverboat.

Shop til you drop – Across the street from the Hotel de l’Ill, Ville et Campagne (23 Quai des Bateliers) is a good place to blow the money you’ve saved on lodgings buying local antiques. Alternatively, hit the 60 boutiques of the newish Centre Commercial Rivetoile (3 Place Dauphine).

CITE EUROPEENE

This area of futuristic government buildings is a stunning contrast with the old architecture of the town centre, and can be viewed from a tourist boat or enjoyed on a riverbank stroll. It makes a tranquil alternative to the city centre.

Sleep soundly – The Villa Novarina (11 Rue Westercamp, tel. , villanovarina.com, rooms from €95) is an elegant option close to the delightful Parc de l’Orangerie.

Compiled by Anthea Gerrie