Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a major city located in northeastern France.

It serves as the prefecture for the Bas-Rhin department. It is also the largest city in the Grand Est region. The city is a vital center for European politics. It acts as the official seat of the European Parliament. This role makes it one of the four main capitals of the European Union.

Other major cities in this group include Brussels, Luxembourg, and Frankfurt.

The city functions as a massive hub for international organizations. It hosts the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. These groups are separate from the European Union itself. The city also contains the Eurocorps and the European Ombudsman. It is one of the few non-national capitals in the world to host such high-level institutions. Strasbourg is also the second city in France for international congresses. It is a major center for manufacturing and engineering. The port of Strasbourg is the second-largest river port in France.

Geography defines much of the city's character and layout. Strasbourg sits in the Upper Rhine Plain. The Rhine river forms its eastern border with Germany. Across the river lies the German town of Kehl. The historic core is the Grande Île, or Grand Island. This island sits within the Ill river. The Ill flows parallel to the Rhine before they eventually join. The landscape is sheltered by the Vosges Mountains to the west. The Black Forest sits to the east. This valley is a major axis for north-south travel.

The climate in Strasbourg is oceanic with a subtropical character. Summers are often hot and sunny. Temperatures can reach 35 degrees Celsius or higher. In 2019, the temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius. Winters are usually cool and overcast. The mountains can block wind, which sometimes leads to air pollution. However, the decline of heavy industry has helped reduce this. The city is divided into many distinct districts. These include the Centre Ville, Krutenau, and the Port du Rhin.

Strasbourg has a very long and complex history. It began as a Roman camp called Argentoratum. The name likely comes from the Gaulish word for silver. In the tenth century, the name changed to Strasbourg. This Germanic name means a town at the crossing of roads. The city has been controlled by both France and Germany. It became French in 1681 under Louis XIV. It became German again after the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. It reverted to France after World War I. The city was captured by Germany again in 1940. It was liberated by French forces in November 1944.

The city's architecture is a famous blend of cultures. The sandstone Gothic Cathedral is a primary landmark.

It features a famous astronomical clock. The Petite France district is known for timber-framed buildings. These buildings are often black and white. The Maison des tanneurs is a notable example of this style.

The city's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Neustadt area was added to this status in 2017. These sites show the deep history of the region.

Strasbourg acts as a cultural bridge between France and Germany. It is immersed in both Franco-German traditions. The University of Strasbourg is the second-largest in France. The city has also been a center for the Protestant Reformation. Many famous religious and scientific figures lived there. It was also an early center for the printing industry. Today, the city's population is quite large. The metropolitan area had 860,744 people in 2020. The transnational Eurodistrict Strasbourg-Ortenau had about 1,000,000 people in 2022.