Petite France is one lovely village an interesting history, but that’s not all Strasbroug has to offer. There’s more.
Petite France is in fact not a city on its own, it’s a small area of the beautiful city of Strasbourg. Two to three days are enough to enjoy the small town, which is a rather touristic place with more souvenir shops than gelaterias, boat tours, a beautiful cathedral, a secret wine cellar, amazing French eateries and the cutest, best-dressed kids in Europe.
우리나라에서는 “꽃보다 할배”라는 프로그램 때문에 유명해진 쁘띠 프랑스. 하나의 독립된 도시는 아니고 스트라스부르의 작은 마을이다. 유럽내에서도 인기가 많은 곳이라 관광객들이 엄청 많지만 솔직히 너무 예쁜 마을.
The tale of storks bringing babies comes from the Alsace region. I was a bit confused when these huge birds came up in practically every form: dolls, hats, kitchenware, clothes, bathmats, candles, postcards, shoes, flags but I later learned that the stork is one of the most famous features of the town. They are endangered now, but the region is striving to bring them back.
“아기는 어디서 오나요”라는 질문에 가장 전통적인 대답은 황새. 황새가 아기를 부리에 물고 날아와 엄마의 품에 안긴다는 이야기인데 이 황새 이야기가 바로 스트라스부르의 지방, 알자스 지방에서 비롯되었다. 그래서 그런지 황새와 관련된 기념품들이 엄청 많다. 여기서 비롯된 이유는 이 지역에서 황새가 많이 살았기 때문인데 한때 멸종위기를 겪었다가 지금은 다시 그 수가 늘어나고 있다고.
Petite France is a bit hidden from the main square and bigger attractions of Strasbourg, so it feels a bit smaller and cozier, which is a great thing. If you are starting from the city center of Strasbourg, you still have to walk a bit to get there. The name Petite France comes from a couple of interesting stories. One is from the hospital where they treated syphilis, also known as “French sickness” in German. Another is that this area was where French workers came to hang out when it was still German territory. The other dates back a bit more (and I believe this one kind of rounds up the first two stories): because of the prostitutes who worked around the neighborhood during the Middle Ages. Prostitution used to be known in Germany as the “French business.”
쁘띠프랑스의 어원은 가장 그럴듯한 세가지로 단축할 수 있다. 일단 매독을 치료하는 병원이 있었는데 (이 병원은 아직 있다) 독일어로 매독이 “프랑스 병”으로 해석되면서 이 병원을 중심으로 작은 프랑스, 작은 프랑스, 자연스럽게 (병원 하나 때문에) 동네 자체가 작은 프랑스가 되어버렸다는 설. 두번째는 스트라스부르가 독일령이었을 당시에 많은 프랑스 인부들이 이 동네에 자주 놀러왔다는 것. 마지막 3번 설은 이 곳이 매춘으로 유명했는데 독일인들에게 매춘은 한때 “프랑스 산업”으로 알려지면서 작은 프랑스가 되어버렸다는 것. 결국 매춘 동네-> 프랑스 인부들 놀러옴-> 매독 병원, 약간 무시무시한 어원이.
Because Strasbourg is so close to Germany, (the Alsace region actually went back and forth from Germany to France a couple of times in history. It finally/officially became a part of France in 1945) there tends to be a mix in the food as well. Foie gras with flammkuchen, if you will. But, of course, brilliant wine and cheese.
프랑스긴 하지만 역사적으로 독일이었다가 프랑스였다가를 반복해서, 그리고 워낙 독일과 가까워서 독일 음식이 대부분이다. 재밌는 점은 대신 질은 프랑스식이라는것. 예를 들면 독일식 스테이크라서 독일 기본 세팅인 스테이크와 감자 샐러드 등이 나오는데 대신 스테이크가 엄청 완벽하게 구워져 나온다거나 샐러드가 훨씬 맛있는 정도.
The river flows through the small village where you can also take an hour-long boat tour along the canals. It starts near the main quarter area of Strasbourg, goes through Petite France (where you get to experience a unique waterway where they close and open the bridges and gates to match the water level), the European Parliament and around the entire city. Brilliant tour and it comes with a personal headset guide with 12 languages, including Korean.
꼭 타야하는 보트 투어. 무려 12가지의 언어로 구성된 헤드셋 가이드가 있는데 한국어도 있다. 뚜껑이 있는 보트가 있고 없는 보트가 있는데 있는 보트는 (여름인 경우) 햇빛이 차단되는 장점이 있지만 약간 답답하고 공기 잘 안통할 것 같은 느낌. 없는 보트는 시원하고 사진 찍기가 좋은 대신에 햇빛이 쨍.
Wear comfortable shoes. This works for any city but I personally had a problem with my feet after walking for so long on the cobblestone streets. And because the city is relatively small, there’s really no better way to explore but to walk.- Try to find a hotel or Airbnb close to town. The nightlife is so beautiful, it would be a pity to stay far away and you had to travel back for the night.
- Try the cheese. Enough said.
- Stick to one language. The clerks and waiters speak English, French and may German, so it can get confusing when you switch to one and then to another.
- The boat tour. Take the boat tour: it’s quite informative and very relaxing after all that walking.
- Strasbourg in general can be covered in a weekend: one day for Strasbourg’s main attractions such as the cathedral, markets and some shopping and the second day the smaller towns including Petite France. If you want more, you can go ahead and do some wine tours around the Alsace region, but this will take more time and effort, including train rides back and forth and searching for the wineries that are available.
All photos by rachelsanghee.