Sélestat

Sélestat, nestled in the heart of Alsace between the Vosges mountains and the Ried plain, is about forty minutes from Strasbourg. A city with a rich heritage, it ranks third among Alsatian cities in the number of historic monuments, with five classified buildings and thirty registered ones. Among them are the Romanesque Sainte-Foy Church (12th century), the Gothic Saint-Georges Church (13th-15th centuries), and the Humanist Library, all recognized as a City of Art and History. The town's charm is also enhanced by its legends, such as that of the giant Sletto, the mythical founder of the city, whose giant footsteps and lion paws, symbols of the local coat of arms, mark the streets. The tanners' quarter, with its half-timbered houses and pointed roofs, perfectly illustrates traditional Alsatian architecture. Sélestat also prides itself on a unique historical fact: the oldest written mention of the Christmas tree, dated 1521, preserved in the city’s records. The natural heritage is equally impressive with the Ill*Wald domain, a regional reserve home to the largest population of wild fallow deer in France, and opportunities for boating on the Ill river or walking along the trails. The city also pulses with cultural events such as the Rock Your Brain Fest and Summer Vibration Festival, the Flower Parade in August, the Machores Carnival in February, and Sélest’Art, a biennial contemporary art festival.