Petite France, Medieval district in Strasbourg, France.
Petite France is a district in Strasbourg lined with half-timbered houses that rise above intersecting canals and waterways. Stone fortifications and wooden bridges connect the narrow streets, creating the layout you see today.
The neighborhood developed as a working district for craftspeople near the water and took its name in the 16th century from a hospital that served soldiers. Fortifications were added later to defend the city.
Tanners, millers, and fishermen once worked along the waterways, and their trades shaped how the district is organized today. You can still see the covered passages and ground-floor openings that made their daily work possible.
Tram lines A and D serve the district with a stop at Langstross Grand Rue, within easy walking distance of the main sights. Walking is the best way to navigate the area, with flat pathways crossing the bridges and running between the buildings.
The Vauban Dam has a viewing platform where you can see the entire district layout from above, revealing how the water system and buildings connect. Many people miss this vantage point while walking through the streets.
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