Place Gutenberg (Gutenberg Square), Strasbourg (must see)
One destination that should be on your 鈥渕ust-see鈥� list is the Place Gutenberg which lies in the center of medieval Strasbourg, not far from the Cathedral.
This large square is a favorite for locals and tourists alike as it has a lot of excellent cafes and restaurants. The Chamber of Commerce building occupies one side of the square and is easily recognizable with its Renaissance style, but with the sloping roof that is typical of Alsace, where winter snow is a way of life.
There is a 16th-century hotel on the square where Arthur Young was staying when revolutionists destroyed the city鈥檚 magistrates records and where today art exhibitions are held on the ground floor. Another attraction is the flea markets that often set up around the statue in the center of the square.
The statue is, quite obviously, dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg; it was sculpted by David d鈥橝ngers in 1840 and features the famous printer holding a piece of parchment on which is inscribed the words 鈥淓t la lumi猫re fut鈥� (And behold, there was light) from the Book of Genesis. Around the base of the statue, bas reliefs depict notable scenes from Gutenberg鈥檚 life.
Not many people know that apart from being the inventor of the first mechanical, movable printing press in Europe in 1439 and the publisher of the Gutenberg Bible in 1455, Gutenberg lived in Strasbourg between 1434-44, where he was an apprentice goldsmith, set to follow in his father鈥檚 footsteps.
This large square is a favorite for locals and tourists alike as it has a lot of excellent cafes and restaurants. The Chamber of Commerce building occupies one side of the square and is easily recognizable with its Renaissance style, but with the sloping roof that is typical of Alsace, where winter snow is a way of life.
There is a 16th-century hotel on the square where Arthur Young was staying when revolutionists destroyed the city鈥檚 magistrates records and where today art exhibitions are held on the ground floor. Another attraction is the flea markets that often set up around the statue in the center of the square.
The statue is, quite obviously, dedicated to Johannes Gutenberg; it was sculpted by David d鈥橝ngers in 1840 and features the famous printer holding a piece of parchment on which is inscribed the words 鈥淓t la lumi猫re fut鈥� (And behold, there was light) from the Book of Genesis. Around the base of the statue, bas reliefs depict notable scenes from Gutenberg鈥檚 life.
Not many people know that apart from being the inventor of the first mechanical, movable printing press in Europe in 1439 and the publisher of the Gutenberg Bible in 1455, Gutenberg lived in Strasbourg between 1434-44, where he was an apprentice goldsmith, set to follow in his father鈥檚 footsteps.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Strasbourg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Place Gutenberg (Gutenberg Square) on Map
Sight Name: Place Gutenberg (Gutenberg Square)
Sight Location: Strasbourg, France (See walking tours in Strasbourg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Strasbourg, France (See walking tours in Strasbourg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Strasbourg, France
Create Your Own Walk in Strasbourg
Creating your own self-guided walk in Strasbourg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Famous Squares Walking Tour
Justly reputed as one of the most beautiful cities in all of France, Strasbourg greets visitors with an array of picturesque squares. Among the most famous of them are:
Place Kl茅ber 鈥� the biggest square in the heart of the city鈥檚 commercial district; a central meeting place since the 14th century.
Place Gutenberg 鈥� a definite 鈥渕ust-see鈥� in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, not... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Place Kl茅ber 鈥� the biggest square in the heart of the city鈥檚 commercial district; a central meeting place since the 14th century.
Place Gutenberg 鈥� a definite 鈥渕ust-see鈥� in the heart of medieval Strasbourg, not... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Strasbourg Downtown Walking Tour
Strasbourg 鈥� the daughter of the Rhine River 鈥� is rich in history, architecture and gastronomy. This is particularly true of the downtown part of the city, the Grande 脦le or Gro脽e Insel in German, which means "Large Island" 鈥� a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.
At the centre of the island lies Place Kl茅ber, the city's central square and main meeting... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
At the centre of the island lies Place Kl茅ber, the city's central square and main meeting... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour
Strasbourg, which celebrated its bimillennial anniversary in 1988, is a city with a very rich heritage. Among other historical monuments found here is a wealth of ancient churches and cathedrals, representing a variety of architectural styles. Exploring Strasbourg on foot, one is inevitably drawn to visit some of these locations. Here are some of the best known places of worship in the city.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Strasbourg Introduction Walking Tour
The capital of France's Grand Est region, formerly known as Alsace, Strasbourg is often referred to as the "crossroads of Europe". Indeed, the city's name, emerged after the 5th century AD, is the German for 'town (at the crossing) of roads'. Adding truth to it today also is the European Parliament that has been seated at Strasbourg since 1949.
The vicinity of the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
The vicinity of the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles