Hotel Cathedrale - Strasbourg
Written: Aug 31 '09 (Updated Sep 01 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Central location; fantastic view
Cons: No on-site parking; very touristy area
The Bottom Line: Excellent location directly across from Strasbourg Cathedral, but somewhat touristy and noisy as a result; good if that's what you're looking for
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| sundogg99's Full Review: Hotel Cathedrale |
As we'd planned, the last night of our 2500 km road trip was in Strasbourg, the main city in the Alsace region of France. After nearly two weeks of country lanes and tiny hamlets, the bustling city came as something of a cultural shock.
Since neither of us had been to Strasbourg before, it made sense to stay in the middle of town, close to most attractions. After a bit of online research, I made reservations at the undeniably centrally-located Hotel Cathedrale, which boasts an unbeatable address directly across from the Strasbourg Cathedral. What I didn't consider when making my reservation was the fact that parking - always a problem in crowded European central cities - was going to be an even greater challenge, particularly since the hotel is located on a pedestrians-only walking street.
In the event, we found a nearby overnight parking structure and rattled our suitcases over cobbled streets for a couple of blocks to the hotel. Certainly, once we were safely ensconced with our luggage in our room and had flung open our windows, the lack of adjacent street traffic was a nice benefit to our location. And directly outside our window, seemingly within arms' reach, was the magnificent front facade of the Strasbourg Cathedral in all its high gothic glory.
As is common in most European hotels, our room was, um, cozy. However, there was sufficient room for a very comfortable queen bed, a couple of chairs, a dresser, and a small but functional bathroom outfitted with typically high-quality linens and fixtures. Our Rick Steves guide recommended upgrading to a view room, rather than the somewhat cheaper interior rooms at the back of the hotel. Pretty good advice: the view really was spectacular, particularly later in the evening.
During summer months, the city presents a sound and light show that includes all kinds of booming, bombastic music and lurid technicolor lighting over the interior and exterior of the cathedral. It's kind of Vegas-y and seemingly out of place in this storybook city of half-timbered gingerbread houses - but it's great fun, particularly when paired with a scoop of delicious local ice cream.
We were a bit road-hardened after nearly two weeks of nonstop travel, and as a result perhaps less appreciative of the hotel's other amenities. Mostly we were there to do a bit of sightseeing, catch some Z's, and hit the road. Visitors with more time will likely appreciate the hotel's central location - in addition to the cathedral, many of Strasbourg's tourist sights are within easy walking distance. The numerous cafes that abut the hotel property are great, if uber-touristy, people-watching locations. Local Alsatian cuisine - a hearty blend of French and Germanic influences - is plentiful, although you have to walk a few blocks to escape the most homogenized tourist restaurants.
The hotel itself is certainly adequate: housed in a historic building, it features period decor in reasonable repair, an attached breakfast room, and most of the amenities and services you'd expect to find at a three star property. Service was adequate, if a bit perfunctory.
The Hotel Cathedrale is, at the end of the day, precisely as it presents itself: situated smack-dab next to the biggest tourist attraction in the city, its primary claim to fame is a perfect location... if you want to sleep next to the biggest tourist attraction in the city, that is. Visitors wanting a bit more out-of-the-way experience will do better to look elsewhere.
Recommended:
Yes
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