TRAVEL MEMOIRS

Spellbound in Strasbourg

Transmuting small moments into magic

Stepping outside to enjoy the lovely Alsatian countryside during a wine tour | Photo by Angela Ward’s sister

There are some places I’ve traveled to that have made an impression on me. I’ve been amazed at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, wowed by Bruges’ history as the “Venice of the North” and charmed by Dublin’s down-to-earth people.

But Strasbourg felt special for a lot of reasons.

To start, its atmosphere captured me. The Medieval timber-framed buildings and flower-adorned bridges lined every corner. The mild spring air and soft sunsets soothed me during both daytime and evening strolls. And the din of cathedral bells washed over me, an echo from another era.

I felt like I had time-walked a lá Diana Bishop in “Shadow of Night.” Except that this wasn’t Elizabethan England — but Medieval France. If Medieval France had the modern comforts of fancy coffees, trendy shops and cafes, and informative wine and canal tours.

Régent Petite France set against a sunset and buildings in Strasbourg | Photo by Angela Ward

Rows of buildings along Strasbourg’s canal | Photo by Angela Ward