Strasbourg

The tallest building in the world from 1647 to 1874, the 142-metre pink sandstone Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece whose intricately carved west facade remains astonishing. Dogs cannot enter the Cathedral itself, but the surrounding pedestrian square and entire exterior are fully accessible on leash.

Strasbourg's most iconic district, a labyrinth of 16th–17th-century half-timbered Alsatian houses reflected in the canals of the Ill. Dogs on leash are welcome on every cobbled street, quayside, and footbridge of this open-air UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Four 13th-century defensive towers that once marked the entrance to Petite France, the covered bridges that connected them are long gone, but the towers and their reflection in the water remain Strasbourg's most iconic image. The towpath running past all four towers is entirely dog-friendly on leash.

Strasbourg's flagship park, 26 hectares of landscaped gardens, a Napoleon III pavilion, a lake, a stork nesting area, and a fenced off-leash dog zone in the northeast corner. Adjacent to the European Parliament, it is the green heart of the European Quarter and the best dog facility in the city.

The historic island at the heart of Strasbourg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, the only listing where an entire city centre was classified rather than a single monument. Every street, square, and quay on the island is walkable with a dog on leash.

A binational park spanning both sides of the Franco-German Rhine, connected by the Passerelle des Deux Rives footbridge. Dogs on leash can cross freely from France to Germany (Kehl), and the French side has a designated freedom area and informal Rhine riverbank access.