Old Customs House and Butcher’S Shop

Overlooking the town center, you have the old customs house on your left and the old butcher’s shop on your right. A word about these iconic buildings. The customs house is a fine reminder of the town’s prosperity thanks to its river trade. The boatmen’s guild decided to set up a customs house to store goods and organize tax payments in the place where once stood a salt depot, created in 1143. Huge swing cranes were set up on either side. An inn welcomed travelers on the first floor, and in the rest of the building, a series of trade fairs were held. Meanwhile, huge food markets were set up in Douane street. It was like the Grand Bazaar or the Borough Market of the time. Then, as the port relocated, so did the customs house. The old butcher’s shop, the large U-shaped building on the right, was built in place of the city’s run-down slaughterhouses. The butchers’ stalls were on the ground floor, facing the street, and the cold storage rooms were in the wings. On the first floor, visitors could attend theatrical performances. Talk about multifunctional! Today, it houses the city’s historical museum. It’s well worth a visit. Thanks to its rich collections, it offers a unique glimpse into Strasbourg’s urban life. Here, great history meets everyday life for a fascinating journey into the heart of Alsace, from the Middle Ages to the founding of European institutions.