Welcome to Bas Rhin
Would you like to spend your holidays in a fairy-tale like place in France? Then the French department of Bas-Rhin is perfect.
Although it may not seem so, geographically it belongs to the Upper Rhin region and is located in Alsace, right at the border with Germany. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, this department borders on Germany and at the same time on the Moselle and Vosges departments.
It is one of the 83 departments created in the 18th century, during the French Revolution, and it is made up of five districts (Haguenau-Wissembourg, Molsheim, Saverne, Sélestat-Erstein and Strasbourg) and 23 cantons.
What to see in Bas Rhin?
The Lower Rhin is a territory rich in tourist proposals according to your preferences. You have recreational activities, walks and typical routes that will show you Alsace, plans to enjoy the landscape, many options within the gastronomy (essential when doing tourism) and a lot of things with which it will be impossible for you to get bored!
To begin with, we have Strasbourg, the capital, which besides being considered the capital of Europe (although not officially), has been catalogued as a historical-artistic city since that has preserved a huge amount of its Medieval and Renaissance heritage. The charm of this city is everlasting, as it has a medieval and romantic colour that will surprise you.
And near the Orangerie park with its relaxing vegetation, you will find the European quarter which is home to several European institutions such as the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights.
What curiosities are there?
This department is full of curiosities. One curiosity is that it is the last one that has kept the term Bas (lower) in its denomination while other departments that also used to share that term have had their names changed. This is the case of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques (formerly Basses-Pyrénées).
Another curiosity is that it is estimated that in 2021 the Lower and Upper Rhine (Bas and Haute) departments will merge into a single territory called the European Collectivity of Alsace while still forming part of the so-called Great East of Europe. In other words, they will be merged one single region.
There are also very appealing options for shopping lovers, as the city we are talking about, Strasbourg, has a fairly large number of shops and warehouses of various types and with different themes at your disposal.
Book online your ideal rural house in Bas Rhin
Where can you sleep?
In this department you will find a wide range of accommodation to spend the night, from ordinary hotels to small, reconstructed farms adapted for a comfortable stay that you will not forget.
Besides the fact that the prices are usually very affordable, you will experience a natural environment like that of a fairy tale. This means that you will get some wonderful views from your room even because of the natural environment and the geographical location.
Of course, there are also campsites and many cottages where you can enjoy your visit at prices that are also affordable in the Alsace area, especially but also in the neighbouring regions.
What to do in the area?
Coming to Strasbourg without visiting the Notre-Dame Cathedral would be a crime. Built between the 11th and 15th centuries on top of a Romanesque-Romanesque basilica, its peak reaches 142 metres in height and from rue Mercière, and you will be amazed by the Gothic-style façade made of Vosges pink stoneware.
On the other hand, the Cathedral Square is covered by old buildings such as the old Deer Pharmacy or the so-called Kammerzell House, a Renaissance tourist attraction that includes a large restaurant inside.
You can also go to the well-known old quarter of the tanners, millers and fishermen. That is, Little France, where its heritage from the Middle Ages is still preserved and where you can still find wooden houses with interior courtyards and canals that are still navigable.
What typical foods are recommended?
A good holiday is one that offers you a tour through the gastronomy of the area you visit. In this way, we present you some of the most typical dishes of Alsace and its surroundings.
For the more savoury dishes, pork is used in all its shapes and flavours as the main ingredient, but the richness of creativity and value it adds to every dish is very high. This is how we come across the flammekueche or what we could call "Alsatian pizza", made with bacon, cream, and onions. Just looking at it makes you want to eat your way to the plate!
As we were saying, pork is very present in their gastronomy, but you will also find here the so famous sauerkraut: fermented cabbage or cabbage with it that characteristic acid taste accompanied by pork too, boiled potatoes and the spices that everyone loves.
And, of course, the great Alsatian kouglof, a brioche with sultana raisins and almonds shaped like a small hat that, as in few other dishes, can be found in a sweet or savoury form.
Where are the festivities?
In this environment a wide programme of cultural activities of all possible kinds is offered for both adults and children and families or couples.
The first event to be highlighted is the International Festival of Contemporary Music in Strasbourg, which takes place in September and was created with the support of the French Ministry of Culture with the purpose of showcasing and comparing the most striking works of the evolution of music since the 20th century.
Although the aforementioned event is very famous, you cannot miss either the mythical Strasbourg Christmas Market, in December, chosen in 2014 as the "best Christmas Market in Europe", so rest assured that this type of traditions are celebrated and enjoyed with more excitement in this part of Alsace than anywhere else in France.
