A pretty city in Europe is home to a cathedral that is "more beautiful than Notre Dame". Strasbourg is the largest cityof the Grand Est region of eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace.

The fairytale city is gaining traction with a 22% year-on-year rise in worldwide Google searches and 525,000 searches in the past month. Strasbourg's historic city centre, the Grande Île, was added to the World Heritage Site list by UNESCOin 1988, with the newer "Neustadt" being added to the site in 2017. The city is chiefly known for its sandstone Gothic Cathedral, and for its medieval cityscape of Rhineland black and white timber-framed buildings, particularly in the Petite France district or Gerberviertel ("tanners' district") alongside the Ill and in the streets and squares surrounding the cathedral, where the renowned Maison Kammerzell stands out. A recent TikTokvideo of Strasbourg Cathedral attracted over a million views, and commenters claim it is "way more beautiful than Notre-Dame in Paris".

A study by Saga Holidays found that Strasbourg Cathedral ranks as Europe's second most captivating cathedral, outpacing Notre-Dame, which placed eighth.

Strasbourg Cathedral is a Catholic church widely considered among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture. The reddish-brown sandstone from the Vosges mountains gives the cathedral its distinctive colour.

Described by Victor Hugo as a "gigantic and delicate marvel" and by Goethe as a "sublimely towering, wide-spreading tree of God", it is visible far across the plains of Alsace and can be seen from as far off as the Vosges Mountains or the Black Forest on the other side of the Rhine.

With 58% of UK travellers travelling specifically to see a cathedral, Strasbourg Cathedral stands out for its standout features, including its Astronomical Clock, which displays the real-time positions of the Sun and Moon, as well as solar and lunar eclipses.

The city features a number of prominent parks, over 20 museums, bridges, medieval churches, historic buildings, and picturesque streets.

Topping the list of Europe's best cathedrals is Durham in England, followed by Strasbourg in France, Calzburg in Austria, Rouen in France, and York in England.