Strasbourg

I

Introduction

Strasbourg (German, Strassburg), city in eastern France, capital of the Bas-Rhin Department, at the confluence of the Bruche and Ill rivers, near the River Rhine and Germany, in Alsace. It is a commercial, manufacturing, transport, and cultural centre, and the seat of the Council of Europe (CE) and of the European Parliament. Population 272,700 (2005 estimate).

II

Economy

The city is renowned for the production of the prized delicacy known as pâté de foie gras (prepared goose liver); other products include refined petroleum, machinery, metal goods, printed materials, and electrical equipment. Strasbourg is served by a major port on the Rhine.

III

Places of Interest

The Ill River divides at Strasbourg into several arms, two of which surround the oval-shaped central district which is the old section of the city. The famous Cathedral of Notre Dame of Strasbourg is situated in the south-eastern part of the old quarter. Construction of the cathedral was begun about 1015, but only the crypt and part of the choir remain from this period. The Romanesque choir dates from the 11th and 12th centuries; the Gothic nave was rebuilt in 1275, and the west facade, begun in 1270, has a tall spire that was completed in 1439. Other features of the cathedral include stained-glass windows, an astronomic clock, and numerous sculptures. Among additional points of interest in the city are the Gothic church of St Thomas (13th-14th century); the Palais de Rohan (1731-1741), now housing the municipal art museum; and the Hôtel du Commerce, the finest example of Renaissance architecture in Strasbourg. The historic centre of the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

The city is the seat of the Universities of Strasbourg I, II, III (1538, reorganized 1970) and the Council of Europe, and it alternates with Luxembourg City as the meeting place of the European Parliament, an organ of the European Union. In July 1999 the new purpose-built European Parliament building opened in Strasbourg.

IV

History

Known as Argentoratum by the Romans, Strasbourg has been an episcopal see since the 4th century. The city was destroyed by the Huns in 455, but it was soon rebuilt by the Franks. In 923 Strasbourg became part of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1262, after a long struggle with the ruling bishops, the citizens gained Strasbourg the status of a free imperial city.

By the time of the Reformation, in the 16th century, Strasbourg was a prosperous community, and its inhabitants accepted Protestantism at an early date (1523). In 1681 Louis XIV of France took possession of the city, and the right of France to Strasbourg was recognized in 1697 by the Peace of Ryswick. The city passed to Germany in 1871 as a result of the Franco-Prussian War but was returned to France in 1919, following World War I. It was occupied by the Germans and badly damaged in World War II. In 1949, Strasbourg became the seat of the newly established Council of Europe; since 1959, it has also been the home of the European Court and Commission for Human Rights.