Set course for aperitif time: the new season at Phare Citadelle, where relaxation meets waterfront events
Strasbourg may not have the sea, but it does have its lighthouse: Phare Citadelle. Located on Rue de Nantes, near Batorama’s headquarters in the Citadelle/Dusuzeau basin, this third-place venue becomes one of the city’s favourite summer destinations every year. A friendly and festive programme, workspaces and relaxation areas by the water... What if you boarded one of our shuttles for a delightful getaway to its harbour?
“The third-place venue that lights up the Citadelle district.” Since 2022, Strasbourg has found its lighthouse in the night: Phare Citadelle, housed within a former 1,800 m² port warehouse between Neudorf, Port du Rhin and Esplanade.
Open from April to October, from Thursday to Sunday, and easily accessible by bike or tram (Citadelle stop, line D), this multifunctional venue offers a setting that is equally suited to socialising, relaxing, celebrating and even working, depending on the time of day.
What can you find there? A vast industrial-style hall filled with carefully sourced vintage details, featuring a bar area, a canteen, and both individual and shared workspaces (including artists’ studios). But above all, it offers a truly unique setting: a large terrace overlooking a marina, complete with an iconic metal crane glowing in the golden light of the setting sun.
The site is also available for private hire for conferences, meetings, film shoots, screenings, talks, photo shoots, cultural events and more.
A thriving project
In 2021, “a group of friends” embarked on an ambitious adventure by responding to a call for projects launched by SPL Deux Rives to operate part of the Citadelle peninsula. The following year, Phare Citadelle was born under the impulse of the cooperative organisation of the same name, created by the Prototip collective.
Originally planned as a three-year temporary occupation, the project was extended in 2026 for two additional years, reflecting the enthusiasm shown by Strasbourg residents. An opportunity to welcome even more crew members on board.
Phare Citadelle has remained true to its values of accessibility. Its commitments include fighting discrimination (through a dedicated “safe team”), offering solidarity-based pricing (with several pay-what-you-can or free events), supporting local suppliers and artists, and providing a menu that is largely organic, vegetarian and sometimes vegan, changing every season.
At the bar, visitors can enjoy local craft beers, natural wines available by the glass or bottle and selected in partnership with Strasbourg wine merchant Au fil du Vin Libre, as well as cocktails, hot drinks and a wide variety of soft drinks.
Phare Citadelle © Bastien Pietronave
Events that sweep us off our feet
What truly sets Phare Citadelle apart is its programme of one-off and recurring events, attracting diverse audiences day and night.
The venue is both a festive hub, hosting festivals, concerts and DJ sets with a strong focus on emerging artists and local collectives, and a cultural and educational space offering performances, film screenings, exhibitions, workshops, training sessions, talks and debates. Sporting events, local craft markets and second-hand markets are also part of the mix.
As the new season gets underway, the programme is gradually being unveiled, but several flagship events can already be highlighted:
- Des Rives de Printemps, the opening weekend in April
- Des Rives d’Été, celebrating the venue’s anniversary (14 August this year)
- Des Rives d’Automne, the closing event in October
Visitors can also enjoy the monthly Yoga Solidaire sessions, open to all levels. Participation is on a pay-what-you-can basis (suggested contribution €5) and includes yoga sequences, relaxation exercises and breathing techniques.
On Sundays, it is time for Chine Citadelle, a flea-market-style event generally held once a month from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except in August and October). Vintage clothing, vinyl records, decorative objects, second-hand furniture and retro treasures make it the perfect opportunity to hunt for bargains in the heart of Strasbourg.
All aboard: Batorama shuttles from the city centre
What if, instead of taking the tram or the bike, you travelled to Phare Citadelle by boat? That’s exactly what Batorama offers: a one-way trip to a waterside aperitif. A gentle and contemplative way to discover Strasbourg from a different perspective.
Simply board near the Cathedral and cruise to the venue by water. Due to the ongoing renewal of the piers, passengers should board from Cathedral Pier 1 or the temporary piers (1 and 2) at Quai au Sable, before arriving at Citadelle pier, right in the heart of Batorama’s operational area, close to the docks.
To reach your destination by water, daily departures are available on all days when Phare Citadelle is open (at 5:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. from May to June, and at 5:15 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in July and August). All that’s left to do is set sail!
Phare Citadelle
Address 13 Rue de Nantes, Strasbourg
Website
Linktree
- Opening hours
- May: Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to midnight, Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The kitchen opens at 6:00 p.m., and at 12:00 p.m. on Sundays.
- Shuttle departures
- May to June: Thursday to Sunday: fixed departures from Cathedral at 5:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
- July and August: Thursday to Sunday: fixed departures from Cathedral at 5:15 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Please note: One-way journeys only; no return service. Audio guides are not available on these shuttle trips.
Author: Fanny Soriano
As a child, she dreamed of becoming a pirate; as an adult, a sailing captain. Those ambitions may have sunk, leaving words as her only lifeline. Yet, in Strasbourg—the city where she was born—Fanny Soriano knows every canal. Whether explored from the water, by bicycle, from a slightly wobbly canoe, or during a brief moment at the helm of a sightseeing boat. Even without a boating licence and far from the sea, she likes to believe that the call of open-water adventure begins on the Ill River for anyone willing to look beyond the city skyline.