Old Customs House and Butcher's Shop

The Ancienne Douane and the Grande Boucherie of Strasbourg

By the Ill, facing the city centre, stand two emblematic buildings: the ancienne douane and the ancienne boucherie. Witnesses of the commercial past of Strasbourg, they recall the importance of river trade. The Strasbourg audio-guided tour stops here to evoke these history-laden buildings.

The heart of river trade

The ancienne douane, a medieval building located by the Ill, was a high place of Strasbourg commerce: it is there that the goods arriving by the river passed through and were taxed. Close by, the Grande Boucherie today houses a museum. These two buildings testify to the major merchant role of the city, prosperous thanks to river trade in the Middle Ages and beyond.

What to see

You admire the façades of the ancienne douane and the Grande Boucherie, by the Ill, witnesses of the merchant golden age of Strasbourg. The ancienne boucherie houses a museum, while the douane today hosts gourmet activities. It is a stop for lovers of history, during a walk along the river.

Practical information

The ancienne douane and the Grande Boucherie lie by the Ill, in the heart of Strasbourg, reachable on foot. The façades can be freely admired from the quays; access to the interior spaces, including the museum and the activities, is according to their own hours and conditions. It is best to enquire before coming.

What was the ancienne douane of Strasbourg used for?

It was a high place of river trade, where the goods arriving by the Ill passed through and were taxed, in the heart of Strasbourg.

Where are the ancienne douane and the Grande Boucherie?

By the Ill, facing the city centre of Strasbourg, two emblematic buildings of the commercial past of the city.