Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region in northeastern France, located near the German border. The city has a population of over 270,000 inhabitants, while its metropolitan area has almost 760,000. Strasbourg is known for being the official seat of the European Parliament, as well as other European institutions such as the Council of Europe and Eurocorps. The city is also home to the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine and the International Institute of Human Rights. Strasbourg has a rich history, having been a bridge between France and Germany for centuries, and is home to the University of Strasbourg – the second largest in France. The city is also the site of the Grand Mosque, which is the largest Islamic place of worship in France.
The name Strasbourg is derived from the Germanic words for “town at the crossing of roads”. The city lies on the eastern border of France with Germany and the River Rhine, and is situated in the Upper Rhine Plain between the Vosges Mountains and Black Forest. The climate in Strasbourg is classified as Oceanic, with warm summers and cold winters. The city experiences precipitation all year round, with snowfall occurring for around 30 days annually.
Strasbourg has a rich archaeological history, with evidence of human occupation dating back thousands of years. The city was established as a military outpost by the Romans under Nero Claudius Drusus, and named Argentoratum. From the year 90, the Legio VIII Augusta was permanently stationed in the Roman camp of Argentoratum. The town was destroyed by fire and rebuilt six times between the first and fifth centuries AD. Strasbourg was also the seat of the Bishopric of Strasbourg from the fourth century.
During the fifth century, Strasbourg was occupied by Alemanni, Huns, and Franks. It was commonly known as Strazburg in the local language in the ninth century, as documented in the Oaths of Strasbourg. The town was also called Stratisburgum or Strateburgus in Latin, from which later came Strossburi in Alsatian and Straßburg in Standard German.
In terms of economics, Strasbourg is an important center of manufacturing and engineering, as well as a hub of road, rail, and river transportation. The port of Strasbourg is the second largest on the Rhine after Duisburg in Germany. Strasbourg’s historic city center, the Grande Île, was classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988.
Overall, Strasbourg is an important cultural, political, and economic hub in northeastern France, with a rich history dating back thousands of years. The city’s location on the border with Germany has also shaped its unique Franco-German culture.
Posted by PaChambers on 2015-06-21 10:37:35