Strasbourg

capital and largest city of Grand Est, located in the historical region of Alsace

Strasbourg is a city in eastern France, the prefecture of Grand Est. Today, about 275,000 people live there (with around 780,000 in the metropolitan area). It lies on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite the German city of Kehl.

Strasbourg
Flag of Strasbourg
Coat of arms of Strasbourg
Location of Strasbourg
Map
Strasbourg is located in France
Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is located in Grand Est
Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Coordinates: 48°35′N 7°45′E / 48.58°N 7.75°E / 48.58; 7.75
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentBas-Rhin
ArrondissementStrasbourg
Canton6 cantons
IntercommunalityStrasbourg Eurométropole
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Roland Ries (PS)
Area
1
78.26 km2 (30.22 sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2013[1])
224 km2 (86 sq mi)
 • Metro
 (2013[1])
1,351.5 km2 (521.8 sq mi)
Population
 (1 January 2014[2])
276,170
 • Rank7th in France
 • Density3,500/km2 (9,100/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2013[1])
456,759[3]
 • Metro
 (2013[1])
773,347[4]
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
Dialling codes0388, 0390, 0368
Elevation132–151 m (433–495 ft)
Websitewww.strasbourg.eu
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Strasbourg is the seat Council of Europe, of the European Court of Human Rights and of the European Parliament. A lot of people also consider Strasbourg to be the capital of the European Union.

History change

Its old town, la Grande Île ("Grand Island") has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The city was founded in 12 BC by Drusus, the brother of Tiberius. Its Celtic name was Argentorate (which the Romans called Argentoratum). People think this name is linked to the river Ill (that flows into the Rhine near Strasbourg).

At that time, it was on the Limes, a fortification the Romans built across Europe (to keep out the Germanic tribes). There was a fortification (named castella drusi, drusus fort) at that spot. Soldiers need to live from something, so a local civilian settlement developed there. Later, the Limes was pushed farther east.

Climate change

Strasbourg has an oceanic climate (Cfb in the Köppen climate classification).

Education change

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Only the part of the urban area on French territory.
  2. "Populations légales 2014 des communes du département" (PDF). insee.fr. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  3. "AUnité urbaine de Strasbourg (partie française) (67701)". insee.fr. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. "Aire urbaine de Strasbourg (partie française) (009)". insee.fr. Retrieved 25 July 2016.