Arts et Collections d'Alsace, at 4 place du Marché aux Poissons, sells beautiful linens, pottery, glass and small pieces of furniture designed, painted and embroided copied from original pieces in Alsatian museums or private collections.

Tablecloths, napkins and lampshades are made from locally-woven linen with embroidered monograms reflecting traditional motifs. Red, white or écru throws and cushions in top quality cotton often feature heart shaped "relief" pattern embroiderery. Glassware and pottery is also attractively hand painted with local, traditional motifs. A souvenir shop for people who never buy souvenirs.

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Strasbourg is set among waterways. Arrive on a canal boat.

Hire from just up the canal (Saverne or Lutzelbourg) and stay moored free just before the Rhine lock gates.

Five minutes from the centre by bike (hired with the boat) and you get to see the Alsatian countryside.

Try a night moored at Saverne, looking up at the Bishop's Palace where Cagliostro studied and Cardinal Rohan welcomed Marie Antoinette as she arrived to make a doomed marriage. Beats a static hotel room any day.

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The best place to stay in Strasbourg for travellers on a shoe-string budget is Ciarus.

It offers clean, comfortable en-suite hostel accommodation, which is often booked up by MEPs.

For the best tarte flambees go to Les Trois Brasseurs at 22 Rue des Veaux. It often has special deals on tarteflambee and beers.

For great beers, go to Academie de la Biere on Rue Adolphe Seyboth. It is a great place to have a few drinks after wondering around beautiful Petite France.

www.ciarus.com

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Restuarant Gurtlerhoft, is situated directly opposite the Cathedral in the main square. The restaurant is a quieter, more relaxed alternative to the more popular terraced restaurants that are in abundance.

Passing through a passage opposite the Cathedral you will find the restaurant, situated in an immense arched cellar.

The ambiance in the restaurant is excellent - dimly, atmospherically lit, and decorated with dark wooden furniture. The restaurant offers all the local specialities, wonderfully cooked, and despite the excellent location the prices are reasonable.

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Try and avoid visiting in the one week in four when the European Parliament is sitting - it means there are hardly any hotel rooms available!

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Visit the astronomical clock at the right hand side of the Cathedral at 12.30pm when there is a show of automata.

The 12 apostles parade in front of Christ at the top level of the clock and a cock spreads its wings and crows.

Cherubs turn an hour glass and hit a gong and there are automata that represent the four ages of man.

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Hotels in Strasbourg can be expensive and in short supply when the EU Parliament is sitting.

Try booking a hotel in just over the border in Germany. Make contact with your EU Member of Parliament and arrange a free private tour around the parliament.

Get to know them before you travel and who knows you might get them to take you to lunch or dinner.

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When staying in Strasbourg over a weekend or public holiday, a great way to explore the region by train is by purchasing a "Pass Evasion" rover ticket at the railway station.

This allows unlimited travel throughout Alsace as well as Basle in Switzerland and parts of Lorraine.

It is available at the bargain price of 13.50 Euros per day and for parties of 2-5 travelling together it is exceptional value at 26.60 Euros for the whole group.

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