Strasbourg: from Grande-île to Neustadt, a European urban scene

The Strasbourg World Heritage site consists of two districts covering about 183 hectares, where medieval buildings, Gothic monuments, and German imperial architecture developed along the Ill River. The river landscape and numerous bridges connect these areas and shape the overall appearance of the city.

The older district received UNESCO recognition in 1988, while the younger neighboring district was added in 2017, making Strasbourg the first French city with a complete historic center on the World Heritage list. This expansion acknowledged the city's growth during German occupation at the end of the 1800s.

The two districts show how French and German architectural styles developed side by side and shaped daily life for residents. You can see this blend in the streets, where Gothic churches stand next to imperial-era buildings that reflect different cultural traditions.

The two neighborhoods are connected by an extensive network of bridges and pedestrian footbridges, making it easy to reach all areas. Walking is the best way to explore the site so you can take in all the architectural and street details.

The Neustadt district emerged as a German administrative and residential center and still shows today how quickly an entire city can grow when new political borders are drawn. Its wide streets and orderly blocks are completely different from the narrow, winding lanes of the older quarter.