Colmar
Colmar is Alsace's top family destination: a walkable medieval old town with canals, colourful half-timbered houses, great museums, and a legendary Christmas market.
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🇫🇷Petite France
Petite France in Strasbourg is a UNESCO-listed medieval quarter with canals, boat tours, iconic bridges, and some of Alsace's best family-friendly food. A must-visit for families exploring France.
Your family guide
Petite France: Strasbourg's historic medieval quarter
“Medieval canals, covered bridges and fresh bretzels from corner bakeries. Petite France delivers Strasbourg's best family moments.”
— San & Jo
Petite France is the kind of place that stops you in your tracks. Tucked into the heart of Strasbourg on the Grande Île, this medieval quarter is all half-timbered houses draped in flowers, glittering canals, and centuries-old bridges that look remarkably well-preserved. Children often ask if people from old stories live here. It's easy to see why they'd think so.
What makes Petite France so special for families is how effortlessly it works. The whole district is walkable, the squares along the canals are perfect for a breather with little ones, and the food scene is genuinely delicious: think wood-fired tarte flambée, soft spaetzle, and pain d'épices from the bakery window. This is a place where slowing down feels like the right thing to do.
Part of the Grande Île UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petite France was once a working tanners' quarter. Today it is Strasbourg's most iconic neighbourhood and one of Alsace's greatest treasures. Come in the morning to beat the crowds, and stay into the evening when the illuminated bridges and timbered facades reflect in the water like something out of a dream.
Strasbourg, AlsaceGrand Est, France
April to OctoberBest time to visit
UNESCO HeritagePart of Grande Île
Best things to do
Best things to do in Petite France
Ponts Couverts (Covered Bridges)
These iconic 13th-century towers are one of the most photographed spots in all of Strasbourg. Walk across, climb up for panoramic views over the rooftops and canals, and let the kids soak in just how old this place really is. It is a brilliant, free way to kick off your visit.
Best views at golden hour
30-45 min
Vauban Dam terrace
The 17th-century Barrage Vauban is free to visit every day, and the grass-covered roof terrace gives you one of the best sweeping views of Petite France, the cathedral, and the modern art museum. Kids love running along the top while you take in the scenery.
Free entry, open daily
30 min
Batorama boat tour on the River Ill
The only way to see the canals and locks of Petite France up close is by Batorama boat, as the locks are closed to general navigation. Itineraries range from one hour to a full day, and seeing the timbered houses from the water gives you a completely different perspective. Little ones are usually captivated.
Only Batorama boats access the locks
1 hour+
Maison des Tanneurs and Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes
The Maison des Tanneurs, dating from 1572, is one of the most recognisable buildings in Alsace. Stroll the length of Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes and you will pass some of the best-preserved half-timbered houses in the whole district. Point out the flower boxes and carved wooden details to curious kids.
Most photogenic street in the quarter
20-30 min
Guided walking tour of the district
A guided walking tour typically lasts around 1.5 hours and weaves through the district's historic sites, waterways, and local legends. It is a great way to give older kids real context for what they are seeing, and guides often share stories that bring the medieval history to life.
Great for curious older kids
1.5 hours
Squares Louis Weiss and des Moulins
Set between the canals, these two squares are a lovely pause point for families with younger children. Let the little ones run around while you grab a coffee from a nearby café. It is a calm, green spot in the middle of all the sightseeing.
Perfect toddler pit stop
20-30 min
Pont du Faisan (Pheasant Bridge)
This charming swing bridge is a favourite spot for watching boats glide past, with views of the tanners' houses and waterside terraces stretching out in both directions. Kids get a kick out of the fact it actually swings, and it makes for a great family photo.
Watch for passing Batorama boats
15 min
Quai Saint-Nicolas and the cobblestone streets
The streets around Quai Saint-Nicolas are lined with shops, bakeries, year-round Christmas boutiques, and cosy cafés. It is perfect for people-watching over a coffee while the kids browse the window displays. Pick up some pain d'épices or a bretzel to keep everyone happy.
Year-round Christmas shops are a hit with kids
45 min, 1 hour
Our verdict
How Petite France scores for families
Kids
Walkable canals, boat rides, swing bridges, and open squares make this a genuinely enjoyable place for children of all ages. Stroller-friendly paths and easy pacing help a lot.
Culture
A UNESCO World Heritage district with 13th-century towers, a 1572 tanners' house, and medieval streets at every turn. The history here is real and tangible.
Food
Tarte flambée, spaetzle, bretzels, and pain d'épices: the local food is hearty, flavourful, and genuinely kid-friendly. Winstubs are cosy and welcoming for families.
Nature
The canals and riverside squares add a lovely natural element, though this is primarily an urban district. The flower-draped houses in spring are a real treat.
Budget
The main sights like the Vauban Dam and Ponts Couverts are free. Dining and boat tours add up, but you can keep costs reasonable with bakery snacks and winstub lunches.
Planning your visit
How long should you spend in Petite France?
2
2 hours
Quick visit
Walk the main streets, cross the Ponts Couverts, and grab a bretzel. You will catch the highlights without rushing.
sweet spot
1
1 day
Sweet spot
A full day lets you do a boat tour, explore at a relaxed pace, sit down for a proper winstub lunch, and enjoy the illuminated quarter in the evening.
2
2 days
Deep dive
Stay two days and you can add a guided walking tour, browse the boutiques, visit the Vauban Dam terrace, and really soak up the atmosphere without feeling rushed.
Fun facts
Things to know about Petite France
The name has a dark history
Despite its romantic look, Petite France got its name from a hospital that once treated soldiers with syphilis in the 16th century. The locals called it the French disease, and the name stuck. Children often find that history far more interesting than the pretty houses.
The locks are off-limits to everyone but one boat company
The canal locks inside Petite France are closed to general navigation. The only boats allowed through are the Batorama fleet, which means if you want to see the locks up close, a Batorama tour is your one and only option. Pretty exclusive for a medieval waterway.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Petite France forms part of Strasbourg's Grande Île, which was one of the first city centres in the world to receive UNESCO World Heritage status. That means the fairy-tale streets your family is wandering are officially recognised as some of the most important historic spaces on the planet.
Taste Petite France
What to eat with your family in Petite France
Tarte flambée (Flammekueche)
Kids love itWinstub Le Clou, Strasbourg
A thin, wood-fired flatbread topped with crème fraîche, caramelised onions, and lardons. It comes out of the oven fast, it is easy to share, and kids almost always love it. Order one for the table and watch it disappear.
Choucroute garnie
Local favouriteMaison des Tanneurs, Petite France
Alsace's signature dish: slow-cooked fermented cabbage piled high with sausages, pork, and potatoes. It is hearty, warming, and deeply local. A proper winstub lunch with this on the table is an experience in itself.
Bretzels and spaetzle
Daily treatLocal bakeries along Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes
Salty pretzel knots from the bakery window are the perfect walking snack, and spaetzle (soft egg noodles, often served with cheese or gravy) are a reliable hit with children who prefer something simple and filling.
Coq au Riesling
Must tryLe Pont Tournant, Régent Petite France Hotel
Chicken braised in local Riesling wine with mushrooms and cream. It is rich, fragrant, and one of the most comforting things you will eat in Alsace. Worth ordering at a sit-down winstub for a proper family dinner.
Pain d'épices
Safe choiceBoutiques on Quai Saint-Nicolas
Spiced honey bread that fills the whole shop with warmth the moment you walk past. You can find it in slices, loaves, or shaped into little figures. It is a sweet, aromatic treat that travels well and makes a lovely edible souvenir.
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