Barrage Vauban

The Barrage Vauban is a covered weir on the River Ill at Rue de Zurich, beside La Petite France in Strasbourg, in the Alsace area of France's Grand Est region. It was built between 1686 and 1690 to plans by the military engineer Vauban, as part of the defences that let the city flood the southern approaches if attacked. The long, low arcaded structure spans the river, and its interior houses a small display of sculptures from the cathedral, which had been moved here to protect them from weather. Its main appeal for visitors is the panoramic terrace on the roof, reached by stairs and free to enter, which looks straight along the Ponts Couverts and the roofs of La Petite France to the spire of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The terrace is open daily, about 9:00AM-7:00PM, though hours should be confirmed at visitstrasbourg.fr as they vary by season. A visit takes about 30 minutes, and most people combine it with the Ponts Couverts and the canal walks nearby. The terrace is busiest from late morning to early evening in summer and in December, when the viewpoint is packed with photographers; it is calmer on weekday mornings. The best light is late afternoon, when the sun falls on the cathedral facade and the towers across the water. Visitors can also look down into the weir gates and the canal below, which shows the engineering that regulated water levels and protected the city. Tram A or D to Homme de Fer is the closest stop, followed by a walk of about 12 minutes. The stairs are narrow, so visitors should take care in wet weather and give way to others on the way down.