Dinant, Belgium – Abbey Normal

After a number of other trips this year we finally decided to visit Belgium for two weeks. The weather in Turin has been abnormally hot and humid since early June and like our trip to Poland, we were looking for some respite. Unfortunately, not only did we find the weather a bit abnormal, but a few other things as well.

Dinant

The town of Dinant is a small town located about an hour and a half to two hours away from Brussels to the south east. It borders the Ardennes Forest and has been historically important in the last two world wars.

Getting There

From Turin we flew RyanAir directly to Charleroi Airport near Brussels, Belgium, a flight that took a little less than an hour and a half.

RyanAir Flight to Charleroi, Belgium – Turin, Italy

Points Of Interest

The town of Dinant is a bit strange to say the least. Though we arrived on a Tuesday, the town appeared to be the center of activity. Then a little after four o’clock in the afternoon, almost everyone was gone. Of course we put this down to day-trippers who happen to drive or bus in on one particular day, stay for a few hours and leave. This wasn’t the only reason.

Charles de Gaulle Statue – Dinant, Belgium

The town suffers from macro-economic forces it has no control over. It is underpopulated and young people are going to the larger cities to find employment. This has caused a housing issue and we found a lot of houses for sale here, which has had its own affect on the local economy. Not only was it difficult to find some places open, if was very difficult to find a place to eat on some occasions. So one has to remain flexible when visiting this tiny town that is stretched thin along the banks of the Meuse River and in other ways as well.

Winston Churchill Avenue – Dinant, Belgium

Charles de Gaulle Bridge – Dinant, Belgium

We can reinforce our opinion in the fact that we stayed in Dinant for three days, where frankly only one is necessary, or perhaps even a few hours. Though this gave us a better feel for the conditions there, it also gave us a rather poor opinion of the town. Sincerely, there are a few things, the fortress, the Bayard rock and the Church, but that is just about it.

Triumph of Light monument – Dinant, Belgium

Saxes on Charles de Gaulle Bridge – Dinant, Belgium

Meuse River – Charles de Gaulle Bridge – Dinant, Belgium

Sax Fountain and War Memorial – Dinant, Belgium

Ibis Hotel

Our hotel was the Ibis Centre along the Winston Churchill Avenue. We found it dated, the rooms on the smaller than small side and the ammenities lacking, we only got a bath towel each, no hand towels nor wash clothes (which are like finding a unicorn in Europe.) The cleaning service was excellent and was perhaps the only good thing about the hotel. Though labeled a three star hotel it is more like two and a half stars, or a motel that you would find in a dusty old town in the States.

Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant

The Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant actually has some impressive stained glass. It has the form of a cathedral, but without the grandiosity required for such a structure.

Fortress and Collegiate Church – Dinant, Belgium

Entrance – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Outside – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Outside by rock wall – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Only one apse has a window, the other is covered up and opaque. The rest of the interior is rather simple and unobtrusive.

Right Apse Window – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Altar and Transept Windows – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Altar – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Coats of Arms of Important Belgium Houses – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Nave – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Aisle and Nave – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Beautiful Apse Window – Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Fortress Citadel of Dinant

Purposefully commanding a view of the entire town and Meuse Valley is the Fortress Citadel of Dinant. It is perched on one side of the plateau where an outcropping of rock supports its impressive mass.

Entrance – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Patti Climbing 408 Stairs – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Entrance and Stairs – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

408 Stairs – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Going Up 408 Stairs – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Still more stairs – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

View from top – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

View of upper Dinant – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Last few steps – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Fortress Wall – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

After purchasing a ticket there are 408 steps to climb. The first flight is a bit more challenging than the upper tier, since they are more uneven and spaced a bit differently, worn with age and cracked from the stress of movement underneath.

Main Entrance – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Cannon – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Diorama of Vauban Citadel – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Diorama of the Sack of Dinant – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Diorama of the Copper Beaters Craft – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Old Iron Boxes – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Typical Office – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Prison Cell – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Another Cell – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Prison Block – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Once the top is reached, there is a main entrance to pass through that opens up into the central courtyard. Off of this courtyard are a cafe, public toilets, open-air museum display and the entrance to the museum proper.

Mortar – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Garden – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Patti in Garden – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Fortress Hall – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Charles de Gaulle Bridge – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Typical Shooting Hole – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

German Side – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Belgium Side – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Ramp to Outside Exhibits – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Citadel Museum

The museum of the citadel has a collection of artifacts and other exhibits related to the history of the structure. Some of them are interactive and intended for young audiences. Other parts one can walk through to reach the outside portion of the museum and other entrance to the museum that sits atop the outcropping. There is a great example of a large anti-aircraft gun and old jet airplane, as well as to beautiful view of the town below.

40mm Anti-Aircraft Gun – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Gloster Meteor Mark 8 – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Meuse River – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Moveable Gun – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Old Cannons, Balls and Wheels – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Anti-Aircraft Gun – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Blacksmith Shop – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Kitchen – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Bakery – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Bunk Area – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Old Helmets – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Old Mortar – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Old Uniforms – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

There is also a tricky little tilted room at the end of the walk-through that is rather intriguing. Since all of the normal surfaces are tilted at an angle, your visual perception of what is up gets messed up. After a short while it could definitely give someone motion sickness, if they are prone to that sort of thing.

Mockup of Communications Station – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Mockup of Machine Gun Emplacement – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Communications – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Inside a Trench – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Down to the Tilted Room – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Tilted Room – Museum – Citadel of Dinant – Dinant, Belgium

Leffe Abbey Brewery

From our hotel the Leffe Abbey Brewery was located directly across the valley from us. After a twenty minute walk along the river and over the Charles de Gaulle bridge, the brewery is a short walk up the hill on the other side.

Entrance – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Monk Benches – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Benches – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

The brewery has a small museum explaining the history of the structure and the monks that had started the tradition of brewing beer.

Interactive Hallway – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Old Distillery Cauldron – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Barrels – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Old Brass Fittings – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Old Copper Cauldron – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Bottle Dispenser – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

The tour included a beer tasting and some free glasses.

Beer – Museum – Leffe Brewery – Dinant, Belgium

Rocher Bayard Walk

A fifteen minute walk down the river promenade from our hotel was the Bayard Rock. Apparently split in two by the soldiers of Louis XIV, who conquered the town in order to build a road. Of course, there is also a fictious account of how it was split by the hoof of a horse carrying four sons who were fleeing Charlemagne through the Ardennes Forest.

Bayard Rock – Rocher Bayard Walk – Dinant, Belgium

Meuse River and Houses – Rocher Bayard Walk – Dinant, Belgium

Today if you hold your head up far enough you will notice how the rock on the top has been fortified and strengthened through the use of steel bands and rods that have been inserted into the rocks.

Maurice Defoin Memorial – Rocher Bayard Walk – Dinant, Belgium

Military Memorial – Rocher Bayard Walk – Dinant, Belgium

Row Housing – Rocher Bayard Walk – Dinant, Belgium

Patti and Bayard Rock – Rocher Bayard Walk – Dinant, Belgium

Freyer River Cruise

There are two cruises that are offered, a forty-five minute and a two hour. We chose the latter and spent most of our time in the Meuse river lock system, which honestly is perhaps the most interesting part of this trip.

Tickets For Two – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Schedule – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Entering Lock – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Lock Operations – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Meuse River – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Waterfront boats – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Countryside – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Honestly, the length of river that goes to the Freyer Chateau is not very interesting at all, as is the chateau. There are some interesting rock formations in the portion of the river system, but aside from that, it was rather uninteresting.

Freyer Chateau – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Plateau Rock Formations – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Reentering Lock on Return – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Dinant – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Collegiate Church and Fortress – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Fortress and Cafes – Freyer Cruise – Dinant, Belgium

Restaurants

The restaurants in Dinant a frustrating to say the least, not worth the effort to say the most. Frankly, if the option was open to me I would have gone to the grocery store and bought food and prepared my own meals. The best by far was the Chinese restaurant below. More than one restaurant that we tried to go to was either not open on the day, were supposed to be open but weren’t, or were closed for good, even though their online presences said they were still in business.

L’Inattendu

A very small breakfast place that is uncommonly open when you expect a breakfast place to be open (though not necessarily in Belgium), L’Inattendu is there to serve. We found the food very good and there is enough on the menu to satisfy most people. We went here several times just because the options are limited in this town and the crepes are really good.

Le Cerf Vert

The Le Cerf Vert, or green stag, is one of the few places that is open for lunch that is worth a visit. Though the service is terrible, the food is not bad. I can commend the Tarbaise Casserole.

Casserole and Side Salad – Le Cert Vert – Dinant, Belgium

Le Pavillion de Hong Kong

The Le Pavillion de Hong Kong is a Chinese restaurant and became our go-to place in a town where the restaurants simply do now want to open.

Conclusion

Personally I would not commend Dinant as a destination, unless you truly want to waste your time or have nothing else to do. This happens sometimes. Frankly there are far more interesting places to visit than this town. If you are passing through the area, it’s worth a short stop. But aside from that, it is only a strategic military point between some countries in Europe.

Damm and Lock – Meuse River – Dinant, Belgium

21 September, 20253 October, 2025

Vevey, Switzerland – Chaplin’s Repose

Retirement Repose Along The Lake Riviera

Charlie Chaplin called this town his retirement home for the remaining twenty-five years of his life and it is commemorated with a number of statues to that affect. It enjoys that same lazy coastline lifestyle that its sister Clarens to the east enjoys. There are definitely less crowds here than you will find in Montreux. It is also considered the headquarters of Nestlé and where chocolate was first created for the mass market.

Flowers Along The Quai – Vevey, Switzerland

Getting There

A three mile walk northwest of the town of Clarens is the town of Vevey, Switzerland where you can relax and enjoy a slightly different view of the lake. On a beautiful morning this would be the way to go, with the exception of about a mile where the path turns inward and you must walk more along the road than the lake. However, one can also take a bus, train or ferry to reach this town.

Quai de Clarens – Leaving Our Hotel – Clarens, Switzerland

Lake Leman – CGN Lake Ferry – Clarens, Switzerland

Lake Leman – Ilse de Salagnon Harbor – Clarens, Switzerland

Lake Leman – Looking Toward Vevey – Clarens, Switzerland

For our return we took the CGN Ferry back to Clarens. While I would normally say it was a relaxing trip back, we had our grandson with us who was overdue for a nap, so we enjoyed a terrible-two meltdown instead!

CGN Ferry – Tickets For Two – Vevey, Switzerland

CGN Ferry – Vevey-Marché Stop – Vevey, Switzerland

Vevey The Town

The old town is a one or two block wide stretch along the lake’s coastline. Though there are still a few old Roman bridges that span the small creek that cuts through the town, there seems to be no evidence of the old fortifications that used to protect it.

City Hall – Municipal Building – Vevey, Switzerland

Nicolas Gogol Monument – Vevey, Switzerland

In the central part of town, the Saint Jean clock tower stands sentinel and offers a fountain as refreshment below it.

Saint Jean Clock Tower and Fountain – Vevey, Switzerland

One of many fountains – Vevey, Switzerland

Vevey Vieille Ville Fountain – Vevey, Switzerland

Dana Window Shopping – Vevey, Switzerland

There are numerous shops here and on the right day, the central square or Place du Marché, holds a marketplace where a whole host of goods are sold. Therefore you may not be able to rely on this as a parking lot and if driving look elsewhere.

The Jardin Doret or park, has public amenities, as well as a nice playground for small children who need to take a rest from all of the adult walking we like to do on vacation; so for some, a must stop.

Stream with Jardin Doret – Vevey, Switzerland

Gabi, Ericka and Vlad – Place de l’Aviron – Vevey, Switzerland

Lake Leman – Seahorse Sculpture – Vevey, Switzerland

20 September, 20253 October, 2025

Montreux, Switzerland – Lake Stroll

Lake Leman Stroll

From our hotel the Quai de Clarens extends to the left and right. Taking a left while leaving, it turns into the Quai de Vernex within a short time and then it has many other monikers. For an early morning September stroll it is a very picturesque and beautiful walk along the lake, being well maintained by the authorities.

Quai Alfred Chatelanat – Walk To Castle Chillon – Montreaux, Switzerland

Eventually, as you pass the towns of Montreux and Veytaux, it will turn into the Quai Alfred Chatelanat. It is here you will see the Castle or Chateau de Chillon.

Quai Alfred Chatelanat – Castle Chillon – Montreaux, Switzerland

Getting There

To get to Castle Chillon there are many options. One preferrable one, since the walk along the Quai is fairly long, at least a couple of miles, is taking the boat. It docks at several places and has a rather spotty schedule, so check the authorities and the schedule at your location prior to depending upon it. It does however dock just below the castle and had arrived as we were on our tour of it.

Castle Chillon – Lake Boat Embarking – Montreaux, Switzerland

You can also take the bus. This is probably the easiest option and there are numerous bus stops along the way. The 201 from Clarens to Veytaux comes every half hour. We chose this option to return to our hotel. Tickets can be purchases on the SBB mobile application.

Chateau de Chillon

The Castle Chillon was originally built by the Savoy family and has had many different functions since it was first erected. It can be seen in the distance for some time before one notices the gun casement that guards it to the north.

Quai Alfred Chatelanat – Castle Chillon – Gun Casement – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Lake Leman – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Lake Moat – Montreaux, Switzerland

The castle has a number of rooms dedicated to particular themes. Each has a unique story to tell, as well as furnishing that were used in the past by the residents. The following were taken while touring the inside of the castle.

Castle Chillon – Interior Ward or Courtyard – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Constable’s Dining Hall – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Trunk Room – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Large Cabinets – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Bernese Chamber – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – One of the Great Halls – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Coats of Arms Room – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Coats of Arms Room, Chairs – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Bathing Room – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Bathing Room, Tub – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Roof Architecture – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Chapel – Montreaux, Switzerland

Castle Chillon – Outside View From Castle – Montreaux, Switzerland

30 May, 202331 May, 2023

Straßburg, France – Quaint Border Town

Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

We arrived by plane from Catania, Sicily in France’s EuroAirport, also known as the Basel-Mulhouse-Friebourg airport. You arrive via the air and exit in any one of three countries, Switzerland, Germany or France.

Three exits at airport, Germany, Switzerland and France – Basel -Mulhouse-Freibourg Airport, France

A word of caution though, exiting in France, you may find it difficult to get a taxi. We waited for a half an hour and ended up sharing a ride with a Frenchmen that explained to us that exiting via the France exit has the least amount of taxis. Of course, the airport has no information booth and you can’t of course change your mind once you are out.

French exit – Basel -Mulhouse-Freibourg Airport, France

The taxi drive was about five minutes and we were standing at the Saint-Louis la Chaussée train stop, having already purchased our tickets via phone. From there we went to Mulhouse and then on to Strasbourg, again using France’s regional train service, which you can essentially purchase any ticket in the future and still be able to use it for earlier trains.

Argantorati

Just barely in France on the border with Germany is the small quaint city of Straßburg, or Strasbourg to the French, and it actually goes by other names to some of the ethnic minorities. The name has German origins and meaning as ‘the town at the crossing of roads‘. It is also the place where the river Ill dumps into the mighty Rhine river.

Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

The original settlement here before the fifth century CE, was known as the fortified silver settlement, a compound of the Celtic arganto for silver and rati for fortification. It was later latinized into Argentium and Argentina, or city of silver, where it is known in numerous texts. What follows is a slideshow of some of the many amazing sites you will see as you walk the city.

Restaurants in the evening – Strasbourg, France

The old Bollinger House – Strasbourg, France

The river Ill from outside the hotel – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

Old wooden framed houses – Strasbourg, France

Another unique wooden framed house – Strasbourg, France

A beautiful day from Pont Saint-Thomas – Strasbourg, France

One of the dam overflows – Strasbourg, France

A beautiful restaurant – Strasbourg, France

Walking the streets – Strasbourg, France

The Liebenzeller memorial – Strasbourg, France

The other side of town – Strasbourg, France

The river Ill on a lazy day – Strasbourg, France

Another view of the Ill – Strasbourg, France

The boat tour anchorage – Strasbourg, France

Old wooden beams up close – Strasbourg, France

Notre Dame

The town has a huge and wonderfully prominent cathedral called Notre Dame de Strasbourg, also known as the Straßburger Münster in German.

Its construction began in the late twelfth century and its impressive bell tower and spire were added more than 120 years after the start of construction, which I might add was never completed, since the addition of a second right tower and spire never came to fruition. The outside at night is spectacular, the interior and exterior lighting provide an excellent balance to show the real grandeur of this cathedral.

Of course, this is balanced well by the stained-glass windows illuminated by the sun in the early morning hours. The interior also houses an ecclesiastical astronomical clock which was built in the early 1570s.

Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

The organ – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

Stained glass – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

Organ and stained glassed windows – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

Another shot of organ and glass – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

Old renovated side door – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

The large rosette window – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

The pulpit – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

A small side altar – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

More statues – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

The ecclesiastical clock – Inside the cathedral – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

Side chapel – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

Very old stone carvings – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

An entire view – Notre Dame de Strasbourg – Strasbourg, France

Get here early, usually before ten o’clock, otherwise the tour groups from the Viking cruises start to assemble and you will have little chance, the line often snakes all the way out the courtyard and around the block!

Palace Rohan

Across the river Ill from our hotel was the Rohan Palace, which houses several museums. We toured the Museum of Decorative Arts, just to get a view of the palace from inside.

We all found the decorative arts inside the museum a bit avant-guarde for our tastes, but typically French. The interior of the palace for the most part met expectations.

Inside the Decorative Arts Museum – Palace Rohan – Strasbourg, France

Decorative Arts Museum – Palace Rohan – Strasbourg, France

Pont du Faisan

Built in 1888 this is a working example of an old hydraulic swing bridge. Below is a short video showing it in operation. First the two ends are closed for traffic, then the operator swings the bridge to allow boats through the gate. We were able to see this as a pedestrian and on the Strasbourg sightseeing tour boat. It is a very interesting piece of engineering and on a small scale, perhaps better than raising a bridge.

Ponts Couverts de Strasbourg

This Ponts Couverts is a set of thirteen century covered bridges and towers on the southwest part of the island. Initially a battlement and constructed of wood, the roofs were later removed and eventually the bridges were rebuilt in stone.

At least one of them was made into a prison and it was later told, though falsely, that executions were also carried out there, though there is no evidence of this happening.

The Courvert Towers – Strasbourg, France

Hotel Cour Du Corbeau

A very good hotel that is strategically located close to the old city center in Krutenau is the Hotel Cour Du Corbeau. It is situated just across the river Ill and two blocks away from the cathedral. Parking for cars is only a block away and many restaurants and cafes are within ten minutes walking distance.

The courtyard and cafe – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

Old wooden framing – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

Renovated inside – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

Since we were arriving by train, we took the D Tram from the Central Station and got off at the Hospital stop. From there we were only a ten minute walk away.

Old spiral staircase – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

The hotel is a smartly renovated and modernized version of an old inn that was used by workmen that worked at the tanneries and other places throughout the city. It maintains many of the old beams and architectural elements of the old building. However, it includes air-conditioning and many other modern amenities.

The lobby – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

Outside courtyard – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

Outside courtyard and bar – Hotel Cour Du Corbeau – Strasbourg, France

Although you may initially find their 27€ price for breakfast a bit steep, it is well worth it since they provide both hot and cold buffet items, as well as a wide selection of coffees.

Restaurants

Being a very busy tourist spot, Strasbourg has a plethora of restaurants, anything from traditional Alsatian food, to Chinese and other cosmopolitan cuisines. So you shouldn’t go hungry, even without a reservation.

Maison Des Tanneurs

The House of the Tanners restaurant was the furthest of all the restaurants from our hotel and took a good fifteen minute walk to reach.

Restaurant – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

Former names – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

Located in the far southwest corner of the island and near the Ponts Couverts it commands a nice view of the river Ill. So, if you want window side seat, reserve your seat early, we arrived at our reservation time and the sign was already posted on the menu outside – totally booked this evening.

View from window – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

Inside – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

Our appetizers – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

Gulash like soup – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

La Choucroute – Heap of sauerkraut and assorted meat – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

Tenderloin with sauce Bearnaise and potato croquettes – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

The window view again – The House of Tanners – Strasbourg, France

La Piazza

We ate here on a first night and it is a decent restaurant with pretty good Italian food. We sat inside near the wood burning over, so the pizza they made for us was using the traditional method. The service was fine and our drinks met all of our expectations. However, the toilet left much to be desired, I suggest you become prepared to avoid a visit.

Gabi and Erick – La Piazza restaurant – Strasbourg, France

The menu – La Piazza restaurant – Strasbourg, France

A nice wine – a Sicilian Nero D’Avola – La Piazza restaurant – Strasbourg, France

Au Tire Bouchon

Another excellent Alsatian restaurant choice is the Au Tire Bouchon. Though it does not have the view the House of Tanners provides, the food is on par with that establishment.