Travel photography tips for Petite France, Strasbourg
Are you visiting Strasbourg and looking for photography tips for la Petite France?
Look no further.
Petite France, Strasbourg is by far the cutest and most charming part of town. It’s located on Grand Ile, which is a UNESCO site and historic area surrounded by water. My favorite part of Strasbourg was walking through Petite France and seeing the many historic half-timbered houses reflected in the water. It was gorgeous!
In this blog post, I’ll share some of my photography tips for this beautiful, historic part of Strasbourg.
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Travel photography tips for Petite France
Petite France is a small historic quarter and you get around by boat or foot. The best way to explore the area is wandering the streets and allow yourself to get lost. You always discover new and fun places that way.
From Petite France you’ll see three towers in the distance. They are known as the covered bridges (in French: ponts couverts), and they were built in 1300 for defense of Strasbourg. They’re all that remains of the defensive wall that surrounded the French city in the Middle Ages. Petite France was originally built for the town’s millers and tanners, but today you’ll mostly find restaurants, cafes and small shops there.
When you’re there, make sure to try the Alsace food – it is D to the licious!
1. Avoid the crowds
Get there in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds
2. Capture the reflection
You’ll get the best reflection photos when the sun has set.
3. Bad weather is your best friend
Rain clouds create dramatic images and low light brings out the reflection in the water.
4. Have patience
Places like Petite France are crowded with tourists, but sometimes it’s only a matter of waiting 2-3 minutes for people to get out of the frame.
5. Use a shower cap to protect your camera if it rains
I always bring one of those shower caps you get free at hotels.
6. Bring an umbrella and rain jacket
In Europe, always carry rain gear – you just never know when the sky decides to open.
7. Be creative
For night photography or low light: If you don’t have a tripod, use the bridge rails and handrails as a stabilizer.
8. Find the best viewpoints
There’s a great viewpoint of Petite France from the top of Barrage Vauban.
From La Petite France you can easily walk to Notre Dame Cathedral or other central parts of Strasbourg. You’ll pass the beautiful Pont Saint-Martin bridge, which is the entry to Petite France.
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Have you been to Petite France? Would you go?
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Strasbourg looks the picture-perfect fairytale town! Love all those half-timbered houses. You must have shot reams of pics – it’s so picturesque! (And the ones you’ve shown here are lovely.)
I do! Strasbourg and Colmar are some of the cutest towns in Europe – it was almost impossible to put the camera down 🙂
Shower Cap for the camera – brilliant! Why do I never think of these things?! I’m adding one to my camera kit right now, thanks!
Necessity is the mother of invention, hehe 😉
Hello! I’d like to know if you took the first picture of Strasbourg on this page. If you did, where exactly did you go to take it? I looooove pictures like that, I had to ask!
Hi Gokce,
Yes, I’ve taken all the photos on my blog. I took that first photo from the top of Barrage Vauban (a bridge). You can read more about it in this other post I wrote about Strabourg: https://adventurousmiriam.com/strasbourg-on-a-budget/
Hi Miriam,
I am planning a trip to Strasbourg for next week! I was wondering how do you get to the area photographed above from the train station? Your feedback will be greatly appreciated, thank you! 🙂
Ah shoot, I’m too late. I hope you found the place, Norma! x
Perfect photography!
Love all images you shared with us!
Thanks a lot for sharing those images! I love this tip so much, “For night photography or low light: If you don’t have a tripod, use the bridge rails and handrails as a stabilizer.”
Thanks, Bethzy, I’m so glad you found my article helpful 🙂
Thanks for sharing the wonderful tips. Anyway I just loved the pictures you captured. Although I am not a travel blogger but I travel at least once or twice a month and capturing the memories I make is also very important.
Photos are the best way to make the memories last. That way you can always revisit the place when you look at the photos after.
Strasbourg has just been included in my bucket list of places to visit and photographed. Did I just said that? Yes, I did!!
I am a photographer. I love the shots you posted and the tips you gave any one like me who loves travelling and photography.
I don’t know if you are on Instagram. I’d like to follow you. Here is mine. @johnabuphotos