Petite France, Strasbourg, Alsace, France
The Petite France is the most picturesque and one of the best preserved parts of the historical centre of Strasbourg. Its bridges, half-timbered houses, and winding streets make it a magnet for visitors.
In the early 12th century, the city began to expand southwards, extending the mediaeval ramparts right up to the delta formed by the river Ill. The Petite France grew up around the four parallel arms of the river and, with its high, half-beamed houses built along narrow, twisting streets, was markedly different to the much more bourgeois sector around the cathedral.
The canals built in the Middle Ages brought in craftsmen and small industries, including tanneries, the evil smell of which had to be kept well away from the more patrician residences, three grain mills and a whole host of other trades.
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