Strasbourg

Straddling the Franco-German border, Strasbourg is a city of enchanting contradictions — half-timbered Alsatian houses line canals in the fairy-tale Petite France quarter while the soaring Gothic cathedral dominates the skyline and the European Parliament symbolizes Franco-German reconciliation. Famous for its Christmas market (the oldest in France, dating to 1570), its flammekueche and choucroute cuisine, and its remarkable blend of French and Germanic culture, Strasbourg is unlike any other city in France.