Strasbourg, located in the Alsace region in north eastern France near the German border, is home to numerous European institutions including the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the Eurocorps. The city has a rich history and a unique Franco-German culture. The Grande Île, Strasbourg’s historic city centre, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the city is known for its manufacturing and engineering industries, as well as its transportation hub. Despite being far inland, Strasbourg has an Oceanic climate and is one of the most polluted cities in France due to its location in a valley with poor natural ventilation.
The first signs of human occupation in the area date back thousands of years, and Strasbourg was permanently settled by proto-Celts around 1300 BC. The Romans established a military outpost called Argentoratum in the area, which was destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times between the first and fifth centuries AD. The Legio VIII Augusta was permanently stationed in the Roman camp of Argentoratum, and the centre of the city was located on the Grande Île. The Bishopric of Strasbourg was established in the fourth century, and archaeological excavations have uncovered the apse of a church dating back to the late fourth or early fifth century, considered to be the oldest church in Alsace.
Strasbourg was occupied by the Alemanni, Huns, and Franks in the fifth century, and the Oaths of Strasbourg, a trilingual text containing texts in Latin, Old High German, and Gallo-Romance, was documented in 842. The town was known as Stratisburgum or Strateburgus in Latin, Strossburi in Alsatian, Straßburg in Standard German, and Strasbourg in French.
Today, Strasbourg is an important European city with a rich cultural and historical heritage.
Posted by PaChambers on 2015-06-21 09:23:11